Scottish licensed trade charity, The BEN, ended its annual events calendar in style when it raised £45k at the BEN Barrel Ball in Edinburgh last week.
Around 400 guests attended the glamorous event, held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 29 October, to raise cash for The BEN and those it supports.
Chris Gardner, The BEN’s CEO, said, “The BEN Barrel Ball is one of our more glamorous events and the guests made it a truly memorable evening.
“It was a fantastic way to end this year’s events calendar and we’re extremely humbled by the generosity shown by everyone who attended.
“The money raised at our events help a lot of people and, as we are calling on more potential beneficiaries to contact us for financial aid, the industry’s ongoing support is very much appreciated.”
The BEN also raised £15k at a day at the races in Ayr last month.
The new funds will be used to support The BEN’s services. This includes the recently launched Glass Half Full campaign, which aims to make on trade employees more aware of the financial aid available to them through The BEN.
Gardner previously said, “We know there are hundreds of Scots out there who are eligible for support but just don’t know it, so the campaign is a way for us to engage with them and let them know we are here to help.
“We understand the apprehension, and embarrassment, which can be caused by seeking financial support but would assure anyone considering contacting us that the application process is completely confidential and any arrangements are managed with the utmost discretion.
“We hope the Glass Half Full campaign will inspire people to either recommend our services or get in touch.”
Established in 1864, The BEN has been providing social, financial and emotional support to members of the licensed trade for over 150 years.
It offers regular discretionary payments as well as one-off grants for emergency situations such as housing repairs or transport costs.
To be eligible for support, applicants must have worked in the licensed trade for at least three years on a full-time basis. The three years do not need to be concurrent.
To find out more about The BEN and the support it offers visit www.bensoc.org.uk or call 0141 353 3596.
