Naomi Campbell, the well-known model, has been prohibited from serving as a charity trustee following an investigation by a UK watchdog.
Gatekeepers News reports that the investigation revealed that funds meant for charitable purposes were instead spent on luxury accommodations and spa treatments. The Fashion for Relief charity, which Campbell was involved with, was found to have misused the raised funds.
Unauthorised expenses, including payments for cigarettes and security for Campbell, were identified, prompting the Charity Commission to take action.
Campbell expressed her concern about the findings and clarified that she was not the individual in control of the charity.
“I’ve just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned,” Campbell, 54, told AP news agency.
In addition to Campbell, two other trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, have also been banned from charity involvement for varying durations.
The investigation uncovered unauthorised payments for consultancy services, and efforts were made to recover and secure the misused funds. A significant sum of money was recovered and used to reimburse other charities and cover Fashion for Relief’s liabilities.
The inquiry revealed that only a small portion of the funds raised by Fashion for Relief, approximately 8.5%, was actually spent on grants to charity.
Subsequently, both Save the Children Fund and the Mayor’s Fund for London raised concerns about Fashion for Relief’s operations. Despite holding fundraising events for these charities, Fashion for Relief was found to have inadequately managed its partnership arrangements.
Tim Hopkins, who was part of the investigations team, said in a statement: “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: “Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them”.
Fashion for Relief was removed from the register of charities on 15 March 2024.
