The RAC Dealer Network and The Assurant Foundation have made a £20,000 donation to the Ben automotive charity.

The Assurant Foundation, the charitable arm of Assurant, which partners with the RAC in the warranty and aftersales sector, match-funded the RAC Dealer Network’s initial £10,000 donation to deliver the funding boost.

Kellie Grocott, RAC director of sales at Assurant, said: “The last couple of years have seen many people in the automotive industry need higher than usual levels of support, ranging from the financial to the emotional, and we are committed to giving back to the sector in which we work.

“We are very pleased to be able to make this donation on behalf of the 1,400 members of the RAC Dealer Network and The Assurant Foundation again in 2021.

“Ben is an extremely worthwhile charity with which most people in the automotive industry are familiar, and the good work it does is very well known and widely respected.”

Last month the Independent Garage Association (IGA) joined industry suppliers in making donations to Ben after the charity experienced a 147% increase in demand for support during 2021.

The IGA donated £20,000 just weeks after Marshall Motor Group pledged £50,000 and Auto Trader made a £55,000 donation and supported the Ben Ball as headline sponsor.

The charity later said that it looked set to be handed a £500,000 Christmas gift after the Ben Ball 2021 succeeded in delivering a £96,500 festive fund-raising boost.

Commenting on its latest donation, from The RAC Dealer Network and The Assurant Foundation, Matt Wigginton, fundraising director at Ben, said: “The last two years have created a situation where demand for our services has increased at the same time as our income has fallen, so we’re extremely grateful to the RAC Dealer Network and The Assurant Foundation for their generous support.

“This donation will help Ben to ensure no one in automotive has to face life’s toughest challenges alone. When a member of our automotive family is struggling, we all rally to support them.”