UnLtd has responded to concerns raised about its fundraising partnership with an entrepreneur who appeared to publicly support “racist” social media posts.
Members of staff raised concerns to the charity after fundraising partner Guy Rigby “liked” tweets that they felt were racist in December last year.
The entrepreneurship charity told Civil Society it agreed one of the posts was racist and that it has updated the details of its contract with Rigby regarding the Entrepreneur Ship rowing event, which he set up in 2020 to raise funds for UnLtd.
UnLtd staff have raised concerns about another person involved in the Entrepreneur Ship event, artist Jake Chapman, who has appropriated original watercolours by Adolf Hitler, depicted Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan and put a swastika on a sculpture of Jesus.
The charity said it did not endorse Chapman’s art or align itself with his artistic method.
UnLtd said it was an anti-racist organisation, with a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and that it was “further strengthening how we select” partners.
Staff concerns over social media posts
Rigby set up the Entrepreneur Ship with fellow rower Dave Murray to raise money for UnLtd.
The pair’s row across the Atlantic Ocean in December 2021 raised £750,000 for UnLtd’s technical assistance fund and broke a world record.
UnLtd staff raised concerns about social media posts that Rigby “liked” in December 2022 that referred to Lady Susan Hussey asking charity leader Ngozi Fulani “where do you really come from”.
The posts on X, then known as Twitter, that Rigby “liked” appeared to try and justify Hussey’s questions on Fulani’s ancestry.
One such tweet said: “So let’s get this straight. A racially obsessed political activist who doesn’t like the Royal Family & who talks about being ‘African’ all the time gets offended when she is asked if she is from Africa”.
Another tweet referred to the incident and said: “Wake up people. It’s a set up.”
Staff flagged the concerns internally but the charity has continued its partnership with the Entrepreneur Ship.
A source told Civil Society they “struggled to reconcile the organisation’s behaviour with its values” after its response to this incident.
UnLtd: ‘We thought that the tweet he liked was racist’
Mark Norbury, chief executive of UnLtd, told Civil Society the charity takes “concerns and wellbeing of our staff very seriously”.
He said: “When we were made aware of Guy Rigby’s ‘like’ of a tweet which we considered to be racist in December 2022, we reached out to him to discuss.
“An important part of UnLtd being an anti-racist organisation is that we not only challenge but also seek to engage and persuade. The painful truth of racism is that it is everywhere – consciously and unconsciously.
“We are trying to shift attitudes and behaviours, not censor or veto people who make mistakes or disagree with our views.
“On this occasion, Guy did not agree with us. He did, however, welcome the embedding of our values – being brave, inclusive, and accountable – into a new shared Entrepreneur Ship contract.
“We are upholding our values by engaging with people who have different views, having difficult conversations, and continuing to learn and improve together as part of the process. We are dealing with complex situations that do not have easy answers. We are clear that if individuals or organisations contravene our values, and we cannot reach a resolution, then we will stop working with them.”
Civil Society asked to see further details of the contract but did not receive them.
Rigby said in a statement: “I’m very pleased to be supporting UnLtd in their mission to find social entrepreneurs with bold solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges.
“I was delighted that our row across the Atlantic in 2021-22 raised enough money to fund and provide bespoke support to 16 diverse social entrepreneurs.
“Through the Entrepreneur Ship programme, I and our future rowers look forward to continuing to support UnLtd’s work in improving lives in marginalised communities. This vital work is needed now more than ever.”
Concerns raised over fundraiser’s artwork
Rigby is not taking part in the Entrepreneur Ship fundraising rowing event this year, but UnLtd staff have raised concerns about one of the participants.
Artist Chapman is famous for appropriating original watercolours by Adolf Hitler with his brother Dinos.
His artwork has included the depiction of Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and putting a swastika on a sculpture of Jesus.
UnLtd said it is not endorsing Chapman’s art or aligning itself with his artistic method.
In 2007, Chapman was also publicly criticised for reportedly saying that the murderers of two-year-old James Bulger performed a “good social service”.
UnLtd did not comment on this remark in its statement.
A source told Civil Society that they thought Chapman’s artwork and comments were “all reprehensible, and should disqualify him” as a fundraising partner.
UnLtd ‘not endorsing Jake’s art’
Norbury said: “Jake has been a generous supporter of great causes, such as Teenage Cancer Trust, in recent years – and we have spent time discussing his commitment to our values and our cause.
“As an artist, Jake likes to be controversial. He is a Turner Prize-nominated artist who has been a generous supporter of great causes like Teenage Cancer Trust.
“UnLtd is not endorsing his art or aligning ourselves with his artistic method. Jake is committed to our values and our cause.
“He believes in UnLtd’s purpose, and the positive impact diverse-led social purpose organisations can generate. Making this happen through this incredibly challenging transatlantic row – and the funds it will raise - matters to him. It will make a world of difference to dozens of diverse founders and the communities they serve. ”
Civil Society approached Chapman for comment but did not receive a response.
Charity ‘strengthening how we select’ partners
Norbury said: “Part of us being an anti-racist organisation is challenging while also seeking to engage and persuade.
“The painful truth of structural and systemic racism is that it is everywhere and affects everyone – consciously and unconsciously.
“We must try to shift attitudes and behaviours, not judge or veto people. People do and will make mistakes and/or disagree with our views.
“We need to bring them with us: that is at the core of us being an anti-racist ally, otherwise we’re not changing anything; we’re just being performative or presentational.
“We are steadfast about our values and our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
“We are dealing with complex situations that do not have easy answers. We have been on a journey of learning and improvement with our colleagues, our partners, and - crucially - our social entrepreneurs.
“Our work with the Entrepreneur Ship is part of this approach. We are further strengthening how we select and work with the individuals and organisations who partner with us.
“We remain committed to our ambitious equity and inclusion goals, and will continue to reflect, learn, and grow with the support of our team and community.”
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