BEN, the Automotive Industry Charity, has broadly welcomed the measures announced yesterday in Chancellor George Osborne's budget relating to charitable giving.

BEN Chief Executive, David Main, said
"The 10% reduction in inheritance tax in return for those making a similar donation to charity should provide a useful incentive to people considering making or increasing a legacy donation. Although the benefit to charities of such legacies are likely to be long term, the simplifying of the rules relating to Gift Aid is of more immediate help and will enable charities like BEN to maximise the monies they derive from the generosity of those who donate.

BEN is already beginning to feel the impact of public sector cuts as many local authorities freeze and in some cases reduce the funding of residents in our care centres. The measures announced yesterday are a tangible and welcome expression of the Government's commitment to the ‘Big Society' and we very much hope that many more people will remember BEN when it comes to making donations and leaving legacies."

As the only charity dedicated to past and present members of the automotive industry and associated trades, BEN's financial and practical assistance is available to in excess of 800,000 people in the UK where it also operates five residential and day care centres at various locations throughout the country.

Full details of BEN's work can be found at www.ben.org.uk and you can follow BEN on Twitter: @BENMotorCharity.