Hats on for Mental Health

image courtesy of BEN

The Good Garage Scheme is supporting Hats on for Mental Health day on Friday 13th October alongside the automotive charity, Ben.

The day is part of a wider mental health campaign run by Ben and spotlights how mental health can affect anyone, at any time.

The campaign is particularly relevant as recent research shows two thirds of British adults say they have experienced mental ill-health at some point in their lives, according to a survey by the Mental Health Foundation.

In an industry which has a workforce of over 800,000 people, that equates to over 500,000 people potentially affected by mental health challenges!

Last year marked the first year of Hats on 4 Mental Health day – their first ever national fundraising event for the automotive industry. Everyone working in the industry was asked to get involved by wearing a hat to work for a day and an amazing £13,000 was raised! So, hats off to those who took part last year and made the day such a success.

The Good Garage Scheme has joined in with a hope to help raise even more this year.

Head office staff will be participating and posting photos on social media to show support and hoping as many member garages as possible will join in to help. Miles Better has already starting to show his support.

Simply text HATS97 £1 to  70070 or visit the justgiving page to donate here.





For more information about how Ben can help, please visit www.ben.org.uk

The Insipring Kate Weaver Runs for BEN

A few months ago, the Good Garage Scheme posted a story about how the automotive industry

charity, BEN, helped a young couple and their family through a difficult time. Kate Weaver suffered a stroke that left her paralysed during a pregnancy, but she delivered a healthy baby and received the care she needed to make a full recovery. She set goals for herself to walk in heels and run once again.

She has worn the heels and will now take part in a 5K Parkrun on the 23rd May at Quarry Park, Shrewsbury in order to raise money for BEN and the Dr Gardner's Charity for Nurses to help other families that may need it. 

To support Kate and to read more detail about how BEN helped her achieve her goals, please visit her justgiving page here.

Ben is the UK's dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants and is the chosen charity of the Good Garage Scheme.

For more information about BEN, please visit www.ben.org.uk.

Read How BEN helped Kate & Tim

Ben is the UK's dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants and is the chosen charity of the Good Garage Scheme.

At a recent charity ball held by BEN, Kate and Tim Weaver shared their story about how BEN helped them when they needed it. 

We are grateful for the permission to share the video of Kate speaking at the event and hope it will inspire those to give generously to BEN and also make those in the automotive industry aware of the help that is available to them.

For more information about BEN, please visit www.ben.org.uk.

Good Garage Scheme Supports Automotive Charity BEN

BEN is the chosen charity of the Good Garage Scheme.  The charity is dedicated for those who work, or have worked in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependents.

Each year we make time at Christmas to visit the day care centre which closest to our Good Garage Scheme head office and send along a hamper for the centre to enjoy.

Arthur Wilson House in Coventry

It is wonderful to see what is available for those who need it and on the day of our visit, the staff were telling us how much the residents enjoyed their annual Christmas party on the previous day.

The centre offers a safe and comfortable place where anyone with a connection to the automotive or related industries can leave an elderly relative to be cared for during the working day. They also welcome those who are more independent who may benefit from socialising or taking part in organised activities and outings. The Centre has up to 25 members each day enjoying a range of entertainment, activities, games and trips to local attractions.

If you are interested in more information about BEN and the work they do or help they can offer, please visit www.BEN.org.uk.

Automotive Charity BEN Offers Support for Flood Victims

With the acrid, foul-smelling flood waters slowing abating and worries that we have not seen the last of the bad weather, the automotive charity BEN is extending their support for our affected automotive colleagues.

Following the Environment Agency's report that 5,800 properties have been flooded since the start of December and 100,000 homes having experienced power cuts, we recognise that members of our automotive community are extremely likely to be amongst those being challenged by the experience.

Commenting on the situation BEN's Chief Operating Officer, Nigel Rothband stated,

"The prolonged damage caused by these events will be placing severe physical and emotional stress on those affected, and we are desperate to ensure that anyone connected to our automotive industry community knows that we are on hand to offer our care and support.

We cannot solve the long-term problem; sadly we cannot throw millions at it to make it go away, but what we can do is to provide short term immediate support including financial assistance, where needed.

Obviously, some people will have been unable to work and will have incurred additional costs in trying to protect themselves and their properties - where these factors have caused short term financial hardship we may be able to assist depending on the circumstances of the individual.

Many will be covered by insurance, which should always be the first port of call, but for those who are vulnerable and do not have cover, or remain unsupported by other agencies we can, and will, respond to immediate need. Whether those affected just needing someone to offload too, advice on temporary accommodation or financial assistance- we are here to help. I would urge any automotive person who is distressed or suffering to get in touch."

In addition to actively encouraging those affected to get in touch, BEN is also contacting existing beneficiaries, in affected areas, to find out if they need help. Many older people in these circumstances will have been unable to get out and therefore missed out on normal social contact, or they may simply be more anxious and need some reassurance. We at BEN are determined to support these individuals and can also offer support to those people needing help to complete their insurance forms.

To contact BEN's helpline;
Call 01344 876770
Text 07781 472622
Email careservices@ben.org.uk

BEN - Caring for automotive people, and their dependants, in times of need

BEN is the Good Garage Scheme's chosen charity - the UK’s dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants.

Christmas Surprise for BEN

On Tuesday, 17th December, staff from the Good Garage Scheme, including Mr. Miles Better, delivered a Christmas hamper to Arthur Wilson House in Coventry, one of BEN's day care centres. Manager, Lynn Walker, was grateful for the items which will be shared in a raffle for the patrons.

 
BEN is the UK’s dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants. Care centres like Arthur Wilson House do a fantastic job caring for those most in need.

If you would like to learn more about BEN and the work they do, please visit www.ben.org.uk.

Teddy Bear Picnic for National BEN Week

The Good Garage Scheme joined in celebrations with automotive industry charity, BEN, this week with the "Bear Us in Mind" campaign.

BEN is the UK’s dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants.

Whether it's practical, emotional or financial support that you need, BEN are there to help. They also provide day, nursing and residential care across the country for older people in our communities.


Staff at Good Garage Scheme's head office brought their beloved teddy bears to work for a  picnic on Thursday, 18th July and the weather was just right for it.

 

We had a bear-themed quiz, prizes for best bear and a raffle for BEN's new "Benjamin Bear". A great time was had by all and we wish BEN a Happy 108th Birthday.

For more information about BEN and the wonderful work they do, visit www.ben.org.uk

Good Garage Scheme Goes Back to School for BEN

The Good Garage Scheme will be holding a ‘Back 2 School’ themed day on the 19th July to raise funds for BEN – the Automotive Industry Charity, during National BEN Week.

Staff at the Good Garage Scheme head office in Coventry will be dressing in a "Back to School" theme in celebration of BEN’s 107th Anniversary of providing help and support to the automotive and related industries.

There will be a school-style picnic dinner and lunchtime games.

Employees are also bringing in school photos of their "younger selves" and there will be a prize for the person who can match most faces to names.


BEN exists to provide care, support and advice to those in the automotive industries who need help in times of hardship or distress. It costs approximately £12 million each year for BEN to continue its vital work, and it’s only thanks to the generosity of supporters that BEN is able to do so.

National BEN Week is an annual event aiming to raise awareness and funds for the charity as well as bringing people together from across the industry to celebrate the birth of their dedicated charity.

Read more about the charity at www.ben.org.uk

Good Garage Scheme visits BEN Care Centres

In 2010 the Good Garage Scheme began its support for BEN, the UK’s only charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants. More information about BEN can be found at www.ben.org.uk.

Good Garage Scheme staff recently visited two of BEN’s Care Centres with Christmas hampers for their staff and residents as part of the ongoing support for the automotive industry charity, BEN and the fantastic work they do.

Arthur Wilson House is the UK’s very first workplace day care centre and has provided high quality, individually tailored care for over ten years. It provides a safe and comfortable place where anyone with a connection to the automotive or related industries can leave an elderly relative to be cared for during the working day.  It also welcomes those who are more independent, but may benefit from socialising and taking part in organised activities and outings.
www.ben.org.uk/arthurwilson

Town Thorns is situated in a peaceful and rural location at the heart of ‘Motor Country’. The residents benefit from a wide range of care including nursing, residential, young disabled, dementia, day care, respite care and sheltered housing. http://www.ben.org.uk/townthorns
We wish all of the hard-working staff and residents of BEN care centres a Merry Christmas and look forward to working with you in the New Year.

Good Garage Scheme turns up the volume of BEN charity

The Good Garage Scheme presented a set of wireless microphones as a gift to the Coventry day care centre of BEN the automotive industry charity at the end of last month.

They have also helped in raising the charity’s profile via their social media outlets. With over 3,000 member garages, and tens of thousands of website hits each month, the Good Garage Scheme has proven a valuable channel for BEN to make itself known.

Funds were raised in July to buy the day centre their chosen donation through an office summer beach party as part of National BEN week. It involved staff at the Good Garage Scheme Head Office dressing up in beach clothes and having a picnic lunch.

Lynn Walker, Day Centre Manager said: “It was a pleasant surprise when we found out we were getting a donation, we knew of the Good Garage Scheme but it was a shock to get something like this offered to us out of the blue. We are very grateful, as the microphones will be invaluable to us due to the fact they are wireless and aren’t restricted to where they travel. They will also help us to project our voices to residents who are hard of hearing during activities.”

Anndi Sheppard, marketing manager at the Good Garage Scheme, made the presentation on 29th September. She said: “We were able to see first hand the great work that the Arthur Wilson House (Coventry day care centre) do. The staff do so much for the residents there, and it makes you want to help all you can.”

BEN is the UK’s only dedicated charity that helps those who work or have worked in the automotive industries. The Good Garage Scheme are keen to support the positive work they do which encompasses a variety of practical methods such as support, financial and emotional advice and care centres to better the lives of those in their care.

Kelly Neal, Events Manager from BEN said: “We are very grateful to the Good Garage Scheme for taking part in our National BEN Week campaign. They have helped in promoting BEN to all their members. Good Garage Scheme is a great BEN ambassador and they always help us promote the work of BEN and raise brand awareness in the industry.  We look forward to our continued work with them.”