Ben offers support to those facing financial crisis this Christmas

• Ben is there for the automotive community this Christmas during cost-of-living crisis
• Some automotive families facing impossible choice of heating or eating
• Ben’s supporting automotive families so that no child goes without a gift this Christmas

No-one should have to choose between heating or eating this Christmas so Ben, the automotive industry charity, has launched a Christmas families project to support individuals and their families who are in financial difficulty or urgent need. Ben is already providing vital support for many families and individuals who are facing this impossible choice and encourages others to contact its helpline.

Over the last 12 months, Ben supported 182 households who couldn’t afford to put food on the table or heat their homes and an additional 64 households who would have otherwise become homeless. And as part of last year’s Christmas families project, Ben supported 34 families who were struggling financially - a total of 53 adults and 73 children.

This year, Ben is again helping families and individuals who are struggling to pay for food and bills as well as making sure they keep the roofs over their heads. It’s also a sad reality that some automotive families wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a Christmas present for their children, so Ben is providing support to make sure that no child goes without.

It's estimated that 1 in 3 children in the UK are living in households where parents are struggling to meet the rising cost of living and priority bills. The cost-of-living crisis is taking its toll on the automotive community and our industry has been one of the hardest hit by the instability of recent years following Brexit, the pandemic and the global parts shortage.

Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “Times are really tough right now and people are struggling to make ends meet. We want everyone in the automotive industry to know that Ben is here for them if they find themselves in a difficult situation financially. We are already supporting many individuals and families who otherwise would have had to make the impossible choice of heating or eating. We want to make sure we support as many people as possible so no-one in our industry has to go without this Christmas.

“Individuals are being pushed to the edge with the current rising cost of living, which is having a knock-on effect on children and families. Ben is here for our industry people this Christmas so if you work, or have worked, in the automotive industry we urge you to get in touch now if you’re at breaking point via our free and confidential helpline.”

Ben is here for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry and their family dependents. Ben is already supporting many automotive families in the run up to Christmas. Don't suffer in silence, contact our helpline: 08081 311 333 or use our webchat at www.ben.org.uk. You can also access many self-help resources at www.ben.org.uk/christmas.

For employers who would like to find out more about working in partnership with Ben, or who would be interested in discussing Health & Wellbeing support for employees contact Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben: Rachel.Clift@ben.org.uk.

When any member of our automotive family is struggling or in crisis, we all rally to support them.

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