Our Partnerships with the NGO Community

Friends of the Ocean is proud to work in partnership with the UK’s world-leading ocean NGO community — organisations that lead the science, solutions, and campaigns shaping the future of our ocean. Our priority is to connect that expertise directly with political leaders and decision-makers who can turn it into lasting policy change.

An example of this collaborative approach is our support for the Great Blue Ocean Coalition — a partnership of leading UK ocean NGOs including the Blue Marine Foundation, MCS, Greenpeace UK, The Pew Trusts, RSPB, and ZSL. Working alongside the coalition, Friends of the Ocean helped connect senior decision-makers to their campaign priorities — including by convening the then Secretary of State for Defra, Baroness Coffey, and the then Leader of the House, Dame Penny Mordaunt, for a major event at the 2023 Conservative Party Conference. Their backing helped secure the political momentum needed to protect more than 187,000km² of ocean around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands — a globally important area of rich marine biodiversity.

As we continue to expand our political engagement, we remain committed to partnerships like this — connecting NGO expertise and priorities directly to decision-makers to drive meaningful, lasting change for the ocean.

If your organisation is working to advance ocean and coastal policy, we would welcome the opportunity to explore how a Friends of the Ocean partnership could strengthen your political engagement. We invite you to explore the partnership benefits below and discover how they can advance your organisation's priorities and policy objectives. To request further information or to arrange an opportunity to connect, please complete the contact form below.

Man in a business suit and tie speaking at a podium with a microphone, during an event promoting ocean conservation.

"The Great Blue Ocean Coalition was delighted to partner with Friends of the Ocean. Their strategic approach and professionalism helped deliver a packed and impactful event, which secured strong political support for our campaign to expand the Blue Belt Programme. We look forward to future opportunities to work together."

Adrian Gahan, Chair
Great Blue Ocean Coalition

Partnership Benefits

  • A large group of people at a formal event or conference in a decorated banquet hall with wood paneling, gold accents, and chandeliers, some holding drinks and engaging in conversation.

    Party Conference Events

    Partners participate in all three major party conference drinks receptions each year — each attended by 75-100 guests including MPs, Peers, and senior party figures across:

    • Conservative Party Conference

    • Labour Party Conference

    • Reform UK Party Conference

    Your partnership includes brand visibility at each event, agenda input, and curated introductions to the politicians and officials most relevant to your priorities.

  • View of Big Ben clock tower and Palace of Westminster in London, with Westminster Bridge in the foreground and cloudy sky above.

    Parliamentary Events

    Partners participate in our flagship parliamentary drinks receptions, including our annual World Oceans Day Reception in June and our Year-End Parliamentary Reception in December — each attended by 75 or more guests from across both Houses of Parliament.

    These events place your organisation at the heart of the most important ocean and coastal policy conversations in Westminster, with co-host visibility and tailored promotion of your priorities to attendees.

  • Three business professionals sit around a table in a meeting room, engaged in a discussion. The man on the right, dressed in a suit, is showing and explaining something in his hand. The woman in the middle, wearing glasses and a white blouse, appears to be listening thoughtfully. The man on the left, in a dark suit, is leaning forward, focusing on the conversation. The table has documents, charts, notebooks, and cups of coffee.

    Private Political Engagement

    Partners benefit from exclusive access to senior parliamentarians and political decision-makers through a carefully curated blend of private meetings and focused roundtables on ocean and coastal policy.

    These engagements offer meaningful, high-level political access that secures a credible and sustained political presence for your organisation throughout the year — connecting your expertise and priorities with the decision-makers who can turn them into policy change for our oceans and coastal communities.

  • Two individuals shaking hands over a desk with legal documents, pens, and paperwork, with a blurred plant in the foreground.

    Ongoing Political Partnership

    A Friends of the Ocean partnership is built on collaboration throughout the year — working closely alongside our partners to navigate the political landscape, identify emerging opportunities, and ensure that the issues most important to your organisation remain firmly on the agenda.

    This ongoing relationship is designed to ensure your priorities are championed throughout the year — giving your organisation a consistent, purposeful presence in the conversations that shape policy for our oceans and coastal communities.

Ready to explore an NGO partnership?

Simply fill out the form and we’ll be in touch with everything you need to know.