The Garage 347

NEWS
Ben launches
new text support
service
For some, the new year can indeed
feel like a new opportunity, but
for others the forced positivity
that a new year brings can feel
like additional pressure, a difficult
standard to live up to.
Ben, the automotive industry charity,
regularly sees an increase in demand
for support in the winter months
and has launched a new text service to
ensure people who are struggling or in
crisis can access free and confidential help
any time they need it, day or night.
The text service offers support
outside of Ben’s helpline hours (Mon-Fri
8am-8pm), in partnership with Shout.
If you need support outside of Ben’s
helpline hours, you can simply text the
word BEN to 85258. You will then receive
four automated messages which will
connect you to the next available trained
professional who will support you. You will
then be able to chat over text about what
is troubling you - be it feeling anxious,
having relationship issues, experiencing
problems with addiction or gambling,
feeling lonely, low in mood or depression,
dealing with bullying, or experiencing
thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Whatever
is on your mind, the Ben team is on hand
24/7 to listen and help you to reach a
calmer and safer place and figure out a
plan for how to move forward.
Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director
at Ben, said: “We are delighted to be
launching our text service as we know this
will be a hugely valuable new resource for
people who need our help. The fact that
people can now contact us and receive
support at any time, day or night, means
that we can offer potentially life-saving
support to our automotive family who may
be struggling or in crisis.
“Sometimes people prefer to text
rather than speak on the phone, it can be
easier to share how we truly feel, to chat
discretely if there are others in earshot,
or to talk about things that are causing
us shame or embarrassment over text
rather than having to say them out loud.
Our existing webchat during the day and
now a dedicated out of hours text support
service gives our community another
way of accessing vital help and may make
a crucial difference to someone who is
thinking of harming themselves or taking
more drastic action in a time of crisis. We
want people to know that we are here, any
time, for a judgment-free, confidential
chat.”
Between 8pm – 8am you can text BEN
to 85258 free and anonymously from all
major UK networks – to find out more
about Ben’s text support service, visit
www.ben.org.uk/get-help/ben-s-textsupport-service
Ben is here for those who work, or
have worked, in the automotive industry
and their family dependents. If you would
benefit from some support or if someone
you know might need us, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch via our free and
confidential helpline: 08081 311 333, use
our webchat at www.ben.org.uk or text
BEN to 58258.
When any member of our automotive
family is struggling or in crisis, we all rally
to support them.
24 THE GARAGE
24 News BEN.indd 1 24/01/2023 16:39