Motoring charity fears job cuts

Car makers donate a percentage of their new car sales to BEN

Jobs could be lost at a charity for retired motor industry workers because of the downturn in the car industry, the chief executive has warned.

The Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund, or BEN, has four care homes in Warwickshire, Merseyside, Northumberland and Berkshire.

It employs about 450 staff and relies on donations from motoring industry workers and donations from car sales.

BEN has predicted its income will fall by £1m in 2009, putting jobs at risk.

The homes are in Easenhall, Warwickshire, Southport, Merseyside, Norham, Northumberland, and Ascot, Berkshire.

Chief executive David Main said: "We are looking to reduce staffing costs across the whole organisation, in administration, catering, cleaning and care.

"We hope to achieve this through a combination of changing shift patterns, offering early retirement and regrettably making some redundancies."

Mr Main said he could not confirm how many jobs were at risk.

However, he said BEN was determined to maintain the quality of care for its care home residents and the users of its day centre in Coventry.