Naomi Campbell, the iconic British supermodel, has been banned from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years, following an investigation into her charity, Fashion for Relief, which revealed serious financial mismanagement. The decision came after a three-year inquiry by the Charity Commission, which found multiple breaches in governance and financial handling at the organization, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Fashion for Relief, founded by Campbell in 2005, aimed to raise funds for disaster relief and poverty alleviation through fashion shows and other charitable events. However, the commission’s findings indicate that the charity was poorly run, with only 8.5% of its spending between 2016 and 2022 going towards charitable grants, as per the AP’s report.
The commission uncovered troubling financial activities, including thousands of pounds from the charity’s funds being used to pay for luxury accommodations, spa treatments, room service, and even cigarettes during Campbell’s stay at a Cannes hotel. While trustees claimed that such expenses were usually covered by donors, no evidence was provided to support these claims, according to the report.
Additionally, fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich received approximately £290,000 (US$385,000) in unauthorized payments for consultancy services, which was in violation of the charity’s own rules. As a result, Hellmich has been disqualified from serving as a trustee for nine years, while another trustee, Veronica Chou, faces a four-year ban.
Tim Hopkins, deputy director for specialist investigations at the Charity Commission, emphasized the importance of accountability among trustees: “Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity’s best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities.” He added that the inquiry revealed clear failures in the charity’s management, leading to the disqualification of those involved.
Founded in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Fashion for Relief was once celebrated for raising millions for global causes through high-profile fashion events in cities like New York, London, and Cannes. Despite its dissolution and removal from the charity register earlier this year, the charity’s website remains active, claiming to have raised over $15 million for various philanthropic efforts around the world.
The fallout from the investigation has raised concerns about transparency and governance within high-profile charities, with the commission’s findings casting a shadow over the charity’s legacy.
