Hats off to Ben
Ben, the not-for-profit organisation that partners with the automotive industry, has raised £10,000 so far from its first ever national fundraising event – Hats on 4 Mental Health Day.
Across the UK on 10 November 2016, those working in the industry wore their hats to work and donated to help Ben support automotive colleagues facing mental health challenges. Around 90 companies took part in the event and the funds raised will go back into providing vital support for those who work in the industry and their families. Those taking part were encouraged to post their photos on social media under the hashtag #hatson4mentalhealth. The event was so popular that it became a trending topic on Twitter for hours.
Zara Ross, chief executive of Ben, said, ‘We were delighted to see so many organisations supporting Hats on 4 Mental Health Day. We have been overwhelmed by the response we have had and the awareness surrounding the campaign has been phenomenal.
‘It’s so important that we keep talking about mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding it as it affects so many of us. One in three people will experience mental health problems at work, which means that over 260,000 people within the automotive industry will face these challenges at some point in their lives. The money raised from Hats on 4 Mental Health Day will go towards supporting those individuals to help them get their lives back on track.
‘I would like to thank everyone who has taken part, helping us to raise awareness and get more people talking about mental health. We really appreciate the efforts that you, our automotive community, went to. We would also like to say ‘hold on to your hats’ as we will be running Hats on 4 Mental Health Day again this year.’
