Ben sees rise in demand
Ben figures show there has been a 51% increase in requests for help, which includes calls to Ben’s helpline, emails and referrals from other organisations.
The not-for-profit organisation, that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their families, has highlighted an increase from 466 enquiries during April to June to 909 enquiries during July to September 2016. Its latest quarterly update outlines the reasons why people have contacted Ben over the period and details that 84% of people seeking Ben’s help are of working age and currently working in the automotive industry.
The figures also show that Ben has presented to over 1,350 people during the quarter about how to improve their health and wellbeing, which is an important step in helping them to prevent serious issues in the future. Furthermore, and in line with the organisation’s approach of partnering with the industry, helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the workforce, Ben will present to employees at 550 different company sites about their health and wellbeing.
Nearly half (49%) of requests for help were from people concerned about their finances and the second biggest reason why people contacted Ben was for help with their physical health, accounting for 29% of enquiries.
Zara Ross, Ben’s chief executive, said, ‘The increase in the number of people we have supported in Q2 compared to Q1 2016 highlights the real need for our services and also allows us to understand the reasons why people need our help. Over the past few months of reporting, we are seeing some trends – with financial health continuing to be the biggest concern each time – with the number of enquiries growing each quarter.
‘We know through our data that people may come to us with one issue but this often isn’t the only problem and there may be a knock-on effect on other areas of their lives. This is why Ben offers a holistic approach to help ensure long-lasting and positive outcomes for people. Ben is working with more and more companies in the industry, as an integral partner, using the important information from our reports to provide the relevant training and advice services to employees. We aim to help equip people stay fit for business and fit for life, therefore adding value to the industry by reducing absence, improving productivity and raising morale.’
