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The Council of Bens — The Kind 50

making the world a little benner

A festival crowd with their arms in the air under a shower of confetti.

In August 2023, a joke started at the UK theater and music festival Boomtown: get as many people named Ben as possible in one place.

A red “Hello my name is” sticker with “Ben” written in.

27.5 Bens answered
the call

(Don’t ask us about the .5)
(Not all are pictured)

A raised hand holds up a shoe wrapped in red “Hello my name is Ben” stickers above a dark, crowded dance floor.
A crowd of Bens packed into a pub, arms round each other and cheering at the camera, one in a red cap in the foreground.
A man with a moustache and a “Hello my name is Ben” sticker gives a thumbs up outside a festival bar.

the joke turned into genuine connection

Today, the Council of Bens is a community more than 2,000 strong focused on mental health awareness. The group operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC), a type of business with a social purpose.

A line of walkers heads up a stony path through green hills towards Ben Nevis under a cloudy sky.

Since then, they’ve put their Benergy into action...

A skydiver hangs under an open red parachute.
The Council of Bens crowded on the summit cairn of Ben Nevis, holding up a banner.
A Ben in a skydiving harness with a name sticker holds up a finger while an instructor tightens his straps.

Climbing the UK’s highest peak

The Council of Bens first climbed Ben Nevis (aptly named) in 2024, carrying a DJ setup to the summit to throw a charity rave. They raised over £2,000 for mental health causes.

Jumping out of planes

In June 2026, 32 Bens and friends went skydiving, each jumping for a charity of their choice. Together, they supported 17 different charities.

A grinning skydiver in a helmet and goggles gives two thumbs up in free fall above the clouds, strapped to an instructor.

£27k+ raised chucking
Bens from planes

They’ve Ben busy. And they’re not stopping anytime soon.

Learn more about The Council of Bens through their GoFundMe

A stony path winds up through green hills under a cloudy sky, captioned “I’d say the reason that we’re hiking”.

“everything we do is built around community”

They’ve also signed up nearly 50 people (including 20 Bens) to the DKMS stem cell donor register and supported community efforts like food banks and clothing drives.

A crowd of Bens and friends cheering together in a wood-panelled pub.
A red “Hello my name is” sticker with “Bens n’ Friends” written in.

Fundraisers for a friend (say, a Ben) raise 5x more*

*Based on GoFundMe data in 2026 comparing average funds raised by fundraisers created for someone else vs. for the fundraiser's own benefit

Start a GoFundMe