Testimonials

PEOPLE WE'VE HELPED

The BEN...we care for the people of the Drinks and Hospitality Industry

Listen to the impactful stories of those we've assisted. Discover firsthand how our services have benefited and provided support to individuals within the drinks and hospitality industry.

Hear from Lloyd, who lost his job and was struggling to pay his bills. The BEN stepped in and provided financial support.

I will always be eternally grateful to Chris and everyone at The Ben because they listened and helped me when no one else would.

Eric was finding it increasingly difficult to get about due to arthritis in his legs so we managed to get him a scooter and it has made such a difference to the quality his life

Paul phoned the office just before Christmas asking if we provided food parcels, his house was up for sale, he was working and trying his best but had no money left for food we stepped in and gave him an annual allowance, he phoned to say we had saved his life

Back in July 2016 I had a bad fall off my horse resulting in a very nasty broken leg not the day I had planned at all! Once the reality of what had happen had kicked in I realised that I would be unable to work in the bar I was currently managing for an unknown period of time and therefore along with the stress of my leg injury I also had the financial stress of managing to survive on sick pay alone

Hi Thank you so much. I can't express how greatful we are for this help during these trying times for us. I pride myself on looking after my family and there needs. With what has been going on, I have been feeling useless as a father and as a partner but with this I can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Once I am back on my feet, I would love to pay forward and help this brilliant organisation.

Kind regards John

Just wanted to note my MASSIVE massive thanks to this organisation for helping me keep on living through such difficult times. I can now finally afford to eat due to receiving a grant from yourselves and it has taken a 10,000 tonne weight off of my shoulders. Special mention to Chris the absolute sweetheart and legend herself. Her compassion towards me is what means the most.

The BEN Grant has come for me at a time when my world has been turned up-side down. Due to rise in inflation and personal circumstances I was living in my overdraft and relying on the little savings that I had to pay for food and fuel. With Chris working with me to understand my situation more, I was provided with the grant. I can now focus on getting myself back on my feet and hopefully cancel my overdraft to avoid getting into the situation any further. Thank you again!

My work put me in touch with Chris at The BEN who couldn't have been more helpful. She immediately put me at ease and introduced me to Sandra who would be coming to meet with me to assess my situation. Sandra was like my fairy godmother! She instantly put me at ease and reassured me that everything would be ok. She was just brilliant and kept in touch regularly to see how I was doing, as I wasn't coping the best with everything that had happened The BEN provided me with a sum of money which was paid to me in 2 amounts which allowed me to concentrate on my recovery as financially I would now be ok Sandra and Chris made regular checks on me to make sure I was coping ok and also gave me lots of helpful advice when I was struggling which helped me loads along the road to recovery.

Thanks to the emotional and financial support provided by the BEN I recovered faster than was expected by everyone and returned back to work after 3 months and I am back to riding my horse again and loving every minute of itThe work that the BEN does is so under publicised and really is a life line to so many people in the bar trade.

Lisa Smith

Thanks to The Ben, the anxiety of bar-work during the quiet period/Dry January has been lessened. I feel seen and valued as a hospitality worker, and their support has ensured I can continue to serve the public with a smile!

I never knew such industry help was available, and will be keen to share the great work that The Ben does with my fellow colleagues!

Cheryl

The Ben are a group of people who put you first no matter what. I've been through some rough times in the last couple of years financially and the Ben have been a big support especially during the pandemic. I will always be eternally grateful to Chris and everyone at the Ben because they listened and helped me when no one else would. I highly recommend to contact them if you are struggling they are really good genuine people

During a challenging period in my life, still reeling from the financial impact of COVID, I found myself grappling with family and health issues that consistently kept me away from work. In a moment of desperation, I stumbled upon an online advertisement for the BEN. Filled out a form with little hope, thinking it might not work. To my surprise, the next day, I received a call from the BEN, offering incredibly supportive and understanding assistance over the phone. Within two days, with the helpful guidance of the BEN team, I submitted the necessary documents, and to my disbelief, received a payment directly into my bank account.

It was a smooth and compassionate process, providing the much- needed support I was desperately seeking. I couldn't believe it at first, but I am genuinely grateful to BEN and its fantastic team. A huge thank you for being there when I needed it the most.

Anton

It's difficult to conceive that a charity like The Ben actually exists, but it does. In a few short hours, my application was replied to, processed and handled with such amazing care and kindness. I will be forever grateful. Thank you!

P.s If I ever win the lottery, I hope to receive an invitation to one of your stressful, but very rewarding charity dinners lol.

I cannot express how grateful I am, not only for your generosity, but also your kind nature and humanitarian spirit. Thank you once again!

Moreover, I will make good on my promise to you!Have a wonderful weekend!

Kind regards,

Toni

I just wanted to say thank you again for all the help that you've given.

With the money that was given I was able yo take away the worry of moving into my own home. It helped lift the weight off my shoulders where I'd got the essentials like a washing machine and cooker. I managed to get myself up and onto my feet much quicker than I thought and now I am happily settled. I can't thank you enough!

Chantelle

Over the years the support from The BEN has gone towards putting down new carpets, getting a painter and decorate in to freshen up the hallway and replacing the back and front main entrance doors which were badly rotten wood and letting the rain and wind in. I'll be forever grateful.

Sandra has always been such a joy when she visits and even on my darkest days managed to make life more bearable by her cheery nature.

Thank you once again for the help over the years and I wish everyone at the BEN the very best.

I can't express enough gratitude for the incredible work that this charity does for hospitality workers. In times of need, they provide a lifeline o support and assistance. Thanks to their dedication and generosity, countless individuals in the industry have received crucial help when facing hardships. The charity truly makes a positive impact, giving hope to those who serve us in restaurants, hotels and bars. They unwavering commitment to helping hospitality workers in their time of need is nothing short of inspiring.

Neil

I would like to say the biggest thank you to both Chris and the Ben for the work they do. The Ben has been patient in communicating with me and done everything they could to make me feel at ease and comfortable talking to them. The grant that the ben gave me will allow me to get myself back on track after some unfortunate events in my life and I can't thank them enough for the support they give both the industry and myself. What they have done for me is life changing at a point where I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Again thank you Chris and the team.

Holly

I just want to say thank you for everything everyone at the ben has done for me. The grant that you guys agreed for me has helped me in a way that I still can't comprehend. I truly don't have the words to express just how grateful I am for all the help.

Can I also put a kind work in for Krissy as she was absolutely lovely over the phone.

My hours had to change due to child care which meant bills were stacked and the stress of not been able to stay afloat was getting on top of me. My work colleague mentioned how much the Ben helped him and he passed on the details. I was a bit apprehensive at first but the Ben really saved me, they were so compassionate and understanding of my situation and awarded me a grant that was paid immediately. I cannot thank them enough it was a weight lifted completely from my shoulders and meant I didn't need to worry about when the next bill was coming and how I would be able to afford it.

A friend pointed me towards the Ben during the difficult time in my life and I wished I'd reached out sooner. I received amazing help that was seriously made a difference and the process was easy and simple to complete. I can't thank you enough for your help support and friendly words thank you so much for everything you have done for me and the support you provide all who reach out. You have truly made a difference in my life and I always be grateful. Thanks again Chris you really made a woman smile from ear to ear today.

Wishing you all the best

Cassandra

I would like to thank Chris, George and the team for all the help I've received over the past few months. From grants to start a packs embeds for my new house for my boy, honestly so overwhelmed with the help I've received and can't thank you all enough.

Chelsea

The Ben are a group of people who put you first no matter what. I've been through some rough times in the last couple of years financially and the Ben has been a big support especially during the pandemic. I will always be eternally grateful to Chris and everyone at the Ben because they're listened and helped me when no one else would. I highly recommend to contact them if you're struggling they are really good genuine people.

I've worked my way up in the hospitality for over a decade but unfortunately due to an ongoing health condition I have been unable to work for almost the past two years. Between moving back home not getting paid sick pay from my job and just general decline in her health not allowing me to return to work I've experienced financial difficulty like never before. I was nervous in opening dialogue with the Ben as I wasn't even sure if I would qualify for anything but those fears were quickly put to ease once I started chatting with Chris over a casual phone call. Chris was so supportive and understanding of my situation and was so great to communicate with through the whole process but I was able to explain my situation with no fears of being judged. I ended up qualifying for one of sum which truly made a significant impact on my life. I can't recommend Chris the Ben enough it can't be understated that the work they do is imperative to the hospitality industry and if you're someone reading this and you're relating to any of what I'm saying I would encourage you to reach out it was definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made!

Thank you so much for all your help and kindness, I am in a very difficult situation financially and mentally and you and your amazing charity really made a difference not just once but twice to me and I am forever grateful that I could turn to your organisation for help your incredible and change lives for the better I really appreciate you thank you

Lisa Marie