Ben Ball 2023 Raises £143,500 to Support Our Automotive Family

Ben, the automotive industry charity, is one of the main charities Dawsongroup supports through its CSR programme, Open Hands. They are there for the lifeblood of the automotive industry – its people, providing support for life to anyone who works or has worked in the automotive industry. This makes Ben extremely valuable for and close to the hearts of Dawsongroup employees.

Once a year, the charity hosts the Ben Ball, a glamourous event held at Old Billingsgate Market, London, that celebrates the year’s achievements whilst reminding attendees of the important work Ben does and, of course, raising funds to help more people. Representatives of Dawsongroup from different parts of the business were privileged to attend this special event.

Spreading the Word About Ben

The Ben Ball 2023 was proudly supported by AutoTrader, whilst entertainment from The Fuel Girls was sponsored by LKQ Euro Car Parts and Fleet Auction Group sponsored the charity auction.

The evening began with a welcome from Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income for Ben, along with the opening of the silent auction where attendees had the opportunity to bid on a range of exciting lots. There was something for everyone, from a personal tour of the McLaren F1 Racing Headquarters and signed sports, music and film presentations to jewellery, wine, holidays, and exclusive artwork by well-known names such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol – all prizes donated by key industry names.

Dr Zara Ross, Chief Executive of Ben, spoke about key decisions in the future direction of the charity and how invaluable everyone’s support is, including that of Ben’s industry partners. She emphasised how knowing about Ben can be – and has been – the difference between life and death for some beneficiaries, and how important it is that we all spread the word about Ben.

Following this, we were privileged to be shown the premier of Ben’s Christmas appeal film, which you can watch on their website here, as well as a moving film about the support Ben has provided to one member of the automotive family.

Celebrating and Supporting Ben

Attending the event on behalf of Dawsongroup were: Marijke Moriarty, Head of People Services; Nadine Lewis, Senior People Services Advisor; Krishma Tailor, Recruitment Consultant; Nicky Pinto-Pérez, People Services Assistant; Rae Dillon, Copywriter; Karl Cook, Regional Facilities Coordinator – South; Alex Lees, Head of Business Development, Dawsongroup energy solutions; Matthew Bull, Commercial Manager, Dawsongroup finance; Kurtis Osborne, Head of Business Development, Dawsongroup tcs; and Adam Nicholls, Senior Fleet Support & Pricing Executive, Dawsongroup vans.

Everyone enjoyed the event a great deal and were very moved by the impact Ben has on people’s lives.

“Being the Dawsongroup Ben lead for nearly five years now, it was a privilege to have spent the evening at this year’s Ben Ball with colleagues who have been actively involved with Dawsongroup’s CSR and Wellbeing work,” said Marijke Moriarty, Head of People Services. “Everyone who went was such great fun and super to spend time with – and looked amazing, I have to say.

“It means a lot to be able to support Ben, which is easy for me as I truly believe in the work they do and the support they provide to people in our industry. Ben just ‘get it’ which means that our colleagues have access to amazing, confidential support from professionals who know our industry. This goes a long way and means so much. My heartfelt thank you to the Dawsongroup team and to Ben for all you do for our people. Thank you also to our main Board and CSR panel for your continued encouragement in the support we give this amazing charity.”

“It was an honour to be invited to the Ben Ball and learn more about the huge amount of work they do to support those in the automotive industry with life’s challenges,” said Nicky Pinto-Pérez, People Services Assistant. “The Ball itself was a fundraising event, full of glitz and glamour. It was a great opportunity to meet those who I often talk to across our businesses but never see face to face. Everyone scrubbed up well and thoroughly enjoyed the events throughout the evening.”

“What a truly fantastic event of entertainment and fun but, most importantly, fundraising, of which there was a lot!” said Matthew Bull, Commercial Manager for Dawsongroup finance. “Ben is a hugely important charity within the automotive industry which helps in so many ways. It was great to be able to meet and see first-hand just how much they do!”

“Having been in the automotive industry since the age of 17 and around it all my life through family, Ben has always been there,” said Alex Lees, Head of Business Development for Dawsongroup energy solutions. “Thankfully, I have never had to use their services but I’m aware of others who have. The Ben Ball was great fun for a great cause!”

“The event was a great occasion to celebrate the tremendous work that Ben does,” said Kurtis Osborne, Head of Business Development for Dawsongroup tcs. “To know that the support is there if someone is suffering from things such as stress, anxiety or even money troubles is fantastic. It was great to see so many people and companies at the Ball and shows how important charities like Ben are to our working world.”

Making A Difference with the Ben Ball 2023

The Ben Ball 2023 raised an incredible £143,500, every penny of which will go towards supporting members of our automotive family who are struggling.

“Every ten minutes someone calls Ben for help,” said Dr Zara Ross during her speech. “When you give a little, we can change a lot and, together, we really do make a difference to people’s lives. We are forever grateful for your generosity – we couldn’t do what we do without you.”

Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income, said, “Ben Ball 2023 raised over £140,000 which is amazing! We rely on fundraising so we can continue to support automotive people when they face life’s toughest challenges. The generosity of our industry helps ensure Ben is always there for those struggling or in crisis, and the success of the Ben Ball will help us make a life-changing difference. I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came to Ben Ball for their support.”

“Thank you to the team and to Ben; it was a fantastic evening, and I am truly grateful to have been invited along to such a wonderful event. It was an honour and a privilege,” said Adam Nicholls, Senior Fleet Support & Pricing Executive for Dawsongroup vans. “Seeing the work that Ben does and hearing people’s experiences of how Ben has helped them was truly inspirational, and it was a great reminder of why we were there. Thank you to the generosity of our brilliant organisation for the support that we give Ben, enabling them to carry out the incredible work that they do.

“This time of year is a joyous time for many, but it can also be a very difficult time. Within Dawsongroup, the Wellbeing Team offers support to colleagues, and Ben has a free and confidential helpline: 08081 311 333.”

Visit ben.org.uk to support this valuable charity or find out how they can help you. Find out more about Dawsongroup’s CSR programme, Open Hands.