Ben delivers Christmas support to struggling families

Automotive charity Ben has launched a Christmas families project so no one has to choose between heating or eating this Christmas.

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.

Meanwhile, as part of last year’s Christmas families project, Ben supported 34 families who were struggling financially.

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, with one in three children in the UK now estimated to be living in households where parents are struggling to meet the rising cost of living.

Rachel Clift, health and well-being director at Ben, said: “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 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. You can contact the charity helpline on 08081 311 333 or use its webchat facility at www.ben.org.uk. You can also access Ben’s out-of-hours messaging support line by texting BEN to 58258. Other self-help resources are available at www.ben.org.uk/christmas.