The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has made a £100,000 donation to BEN the automotive charity.

The donation has been funded by the RMI’s own cash reserves and will support the charity in enabling it to provide new furnishings and equipment for a new house in the new care centre in Ascot, Berkshire which is currently being built.

The project is due for completion at the end of October 2014.

Alec Murray, RMI chairman, said: “We are pleased to see that our donation is being used towards a positive and valuable cause in helping people from our industry, and hope to continue to work closely with BEN in the near future in supporting those in need of care.”

Kevin Waterman, RMI finance director, said: “The associations member representatives on the board were material in determining the beneficiary and the size of the donation.

“As the RMI is, and has been for a number of years, financially stable with sufficient reserves the board decided to recognise its centenary by making a contribution towards the refurbishment and development project at Lynwood being undertaken by BEN.

“As a result of this gesture by RMI, BEN have raised more donations from likeminded businesses around the industry who also recognise the value of the work BEN undertakes.”