Bentley Motors unveils The Bentley Foundation, a philanthropic initiative that intertwines sustainability with the arts and global education, forging impactful partnerships to promote well-being and environmental stewardship.
DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Luxury UK brand Bentley Motors (Bentley) has announced the launch of The Bentley Foundation, a refreshed philanthropic strategy that aligns with the company’s evolving commitment to sustainability.
Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy defines the initiative as one that prioritises long-term societal value, human potential, and environmental responsibility.
Developed from the award-winning Bentley Environmental Foundation, the programme supported 21 environmental projects across 15 countries in just two years, partnering with 10 organisations to deliver more than 1,600 activities benefiting over 636,000 people worldwide.
Launched in 2023, the Bentley Environmental Foundation established a strong record of meaningful, measurable impact, providing a robust foundation for this next chapter.
Tangible outcomes include planting 200,000 mangrove trees in Kenya, creating 26 new green spaces across the UK, and restoring ecosystems around Bentley’s headquarters through a renewed partnership with The Rivers Trust – demonstrating a commitment to real, positive change.
These achievements reflect Bentley’s long-term commitment under Beyond100+ to stewardship, regeneration, and delivering positive change for future generations – principles that now underpin The Bentley Foundation’s broader ambition.
The organisation has now expanded its scope to support initiatives across the arts and culture, environmental issues, and global education.
These interconnected pillars recognise that a sustainable future depends not only on technological progress and environmental action, but also on creativity, knowledge, literacy, and cultural connection.
A WORTHY PARTNERSHIP
The inspirational charity, Queen’s Reading Room, is The Bentley Foundation’s first strategic partner.
Established by Queen Camilla in 2021, the charity is dedicated to showcasing the transformative power of literature.
It champions reading as a tool for education, well-being, and cultural enrichment. At the same time, promoting access to literature and learning across diverse communities – a mission that The Bentley Foundation is proud to support.
Wayne Bruce, Chief Communications and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Officer, commented on the foundation’s renewed direction, noting that its evolution deepens Bentley’s philanthropic ambition.
He added that the partnership with The Queen’s Reading Room is a powerful expression of that belief.
Meanwhile, Vicki Perrin, Chief Executive of The Queen’s Reading Room, expressed deep gratitude to The Bentley Foundation for enabling the charity to go further and explore how people connect through shared stories.
THE IMPACT OF LITERATURE
Since its founding during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Queen’s Reading Room has evolved into an international movement, hosting major events at Hampton Court Palace and Chatsworth.
Additionally, it is the first literary charity to be featured at the British Neuroscience Association’s International Festival of Neuroscience.
The partnership with The Bentley Foundation will support a neuroscience study led by Professor Sam Wass at the University of East London, exploring how shared reading reduces stress and strengthens social connections.
The laboratory study will examine the physiological and psychological effects of reading together in groups and book clubs, deepening understanding of its impact on mental health and social bonding.
This research builds on a groundbreaking 2024 study that found that just five minutes of reading can reduce stress by nearly 20 percent.
The second phase will use rigorous scientific methodology, with findings expected to provide vital evidence of reading’s role in promoting national well-being and community cohesion.
EMPOWERING THE FUTURE
Aiming to deliver long-term, thoughtful philanthropy and guided by Beyond100+ principles, The Bentley Foundation will adopt a partnership-led model focused on collaboration, co-creation, and measurable impact.
As such, the foundation will support organisations whose work contributes to regeneration, resilience, and opportunity – for both people and the planet – extending Bentley’s responsibility beyond its own operations.
Committed to transparency and responsible governance, The Bentley Foundation invites colleagues and the wider public to engage with and support its mission.
Through this work, Bentley aims to contribute to a world where creativity, sustainability, and opportunity empower subsequent generations to thrive.
Looking ahead, the foundation plans to build further partnerships centred on environmental innovation, cultural preservation, and educational access, inspiring hope for a sustainable future.
