The Guide to Major Trusts 2025-26. DSC (Directory of Social Change)

Which charities made the most of the solar eclipse?

Howard Lake | 20 March 2015 | Blogs

The partial solar eclipse across the UK this morning gathered a great deal of publicity and attention. Did charities and fundraisers exploit the opportunity, especially online?
The #SolarEclipse hashtag was a pretty safe one to use since there were no corporate brand or intellectual copyright issues to be concerned about. The newsworthy story – it was being carried live on several TV networks – could also be used in many ways by charities. Issues such as darkness and blindness, diamond rings and conflict diamonds, solar power and energy, space/science education, eye health and sight restoration, and air pollution could all reasonably be linked to the event. “Dark days” and “the lights going out” are also common fundraising campaign metaphors.
And of course, there was the humorous element of Britons standing under cloudy skies, missing out on the full glory of the event.
Plus, we knew that the eclipse was going to produce a happy smile-like image. That would have been a lovely image for charities to share with their supporters. Even better, the eclipse fell on International Happiness Day!
Here are some of the tie-ins we spotted from charities and their supporters. If you’ve got one to add, post it in the comments below.


 


 
https://twitter.com/devonairamb/status/578853161693290498
 


 


 


 
 


 
If you missed this ‘newsjacking’ opportunity, don’t worry: you’ve got 11 years to prepare for the next partial solar eclipse in the UK!
 
 
Main photo: partial solar eclipse by PHB.cz (Richard Semik) on Shutterstock.com
 

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