# Partnerships result in a New Year trio of PR issues for charities - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/01/11/partnerships-result-in-a-new-year-trio-of-pr-issues-for-charities/ - Published: 2023-01-11T11:44:55+00:00 - Author: Melanie May **BHF and the Natural History both (separately) came under fire last week – BHF for accepting funds from a prize draw where the main prize is a house with wood- burning fires, and the Natural History Museum for signing a gagging clause when it partnered with a Danish oil sponsor for its wildlife photography competition.** The BHF-Omaze competition drew criticism because [BHF](https://www.bhf.org.uk/) has [previously campaigned](https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2020/february/bhf-responds-to-government-phase-out-of-most-polluting-wood-burner-fuels) about the health and pollution risks associated with wood-burning fires, and some of [Omaze’s footage](https://omaze.co.uk/pages/london-ii) of the house shows a roaring fire. > Hands up who's ready for some January joy?  🙌❤️ > Enter the [#OmazeHouseDraw](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OmazeHouseDraw?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > London, by Midnight, Sunday 15th January* and you could win a life changing £250,000! > 🎉🥺Enter now 👇 [https://t.co/qnOregoxvJ](https://t.co/qnOregoxvJ)*The closing > date for the £250,000 Early Bird Prize is 15th January. [pic.twitter.com/XXgHxQCQUp](https://t.co/XXgHxQCQUp) > > ## Advertisement > > — Omaze UK (@OmazeUK) [January 10, 2023](https://twitter.com/OmazeUK/status/1612816605183987714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [The Natural History Museum](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/)’s contract with Ørsted (then Dong Energy), obtained by investigative journalism organisation Point Source (and shared with the Observer) raised greenwashing concerns. The contract was signed before Ørsted divested its oil and gas business to focus on renewable energy in 2017. One image and text from the museum’s 2016 competition that has drawn particular attention in the media is of a cormorant swimming through fish under an oil rig. The text read “Drilling for oil is not generally considered beneficial for wildlife, yet oil rigs can provide shelter and a rich food supply for many animals, including Brandt’s cormorants”. > Happy publication day to [@BootstrapCook](https://twitter.com/BootstrapCook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)' > s Thrifty Kitchen, a bumper collection of 120 delicious, low-cost recipes. Order > with free shipping and support indie bookshops – plus, we'll donate a copy to > the [@TrussellTrust](https://twitter.com/TrussellTrust?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) for > every copy sold this month: [https://t.co/78GAxQZuSB](https://t.co/78GAxQZuSB) > [pic.twitter.com/mgbkUbOmMO](https://t.co/mgbkUbOmMO) > — Bookshop.org (@bookshop_org_UK) [January 5, 2023](https://twitter.com/bookshop_org_UK/status/1610951483255652353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) The two cases are joined by another since the New Year – where a link with a book, Thrifty Kitchen, by food writer and activist Jack Monroe caused some issues for the[ Trussell Trust](https://www.trusselltrust.org/). In this case, for every copy [sold through Bookshop.org](https://uk.bookshop.org/books/thrifty-kitchen-over-120-delicious-money-saving-recipes-and-home-hacks/9781035008513) until the end of January, Bookshop.org is donating a copy to the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks. The problem however was that some of Monroe’s work arounds aimed at helping people with very limited resources – opening tins without a tin opener for example ­– raised safety concerns. #### How the charities have responded The Trussell Trust halted distribution of the book to its food banks until the publisher could sort out an addendum addressing the concerns. The text was also quickly amended in the e-book version. The Natural History Museum issued a statement, [reported by The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/08/natural-history-museum-gagging-order-danish-oil-sponsor), saying that it retains editorial control over its exhibitions and that sponsors have no influence over content. It also confirmed that these clauses are no longer included in any contracts. [BHF said](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/08/a-roaring-fireplace-the-polluting-raffle-prize-from-the-british-heart-foundation) that Omaze was reviewing the issue and the charity was awaiting the outcome, with Omaze adding to this that it takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. The Chartered Institute of Fundraising offers guidance for charities on [corporate partnerships](https://ciof.org.uk/events-and-training/resources/corporate-fundraising) as well as on [accepting donations](https://ciof.org.uk/events-and-training/resources/acceptance,-refusal-and-return-a-practical-guide-t) on its site. * **[Free press release initiative offers support for a different UK charity every month](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/08/08/free-press-release-initiative-offers-support-for-a-different-uk-charity-every-month/)**( 8 August 2023) * **[Free media training sessions for charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/03/12/free-media-training-sessions-charities/)**( 12 March 2004) * **[Twenty one/two week media placements for charity staff](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/04/20/twenty-onetwo-week-media-placements-charity-staff/)**( 20 April 2006)