British supermodel Naomi Campbell, famed for her dominance on international runways, has found herself banned from serving as a charity trustee for five years in the UK. The decision follows an investigation by the Charity Commission into her foundation, Fashion for Relief, revealing widespread financial misconduct. Campbell, now 54, established the charity in 2005 with the goal of raising funds for humanitarian causes through high-profile fashion events. However, a report from the Charity Commission found serious mismanagement of funds that ultimately led to the organisation’s removal from the UK’s charity register.
Mismanagement of Funds and Lavish Expenditures
The investigation into Fashion for Relief uncovered disturbing details about the charity’s use of funds. Between 2016 and 2022, only 8.5% of the charity’s expenditure was towards charitable grants, with the rest spent on personal luxuries. These included spa treatments, five-star hotel stays, cigarettes, and even a €14,800 flight to transport Campbell’s art and jewellery to a Cannes event.
Additionally, unauthorised payments of £290,000 ($388,000) were made to one of the charity’s trustees, Bianka Hellmich, for consultancy services. Despite claims that donors covered some of the hotel expenses, no documentation was provided to justify this, leading the Charity Commission to deem many of these expenses “unreasonable.”
Consequences for Campbell and Co-trustees
As a result of the inquiry, Campbell and two other trustees – Hellmich and Veronica Chou have been banned from serving as charity trustees. Hellmich’s ban extends to nine years due to the extent of her involvement, while Chou is barred for four years.
The investigation, which began in 2021, also revealed that Fashion for Relief lacked proper financial governance and record-keeping. The charity operated without full-time employees, relying instead on external advisers. This disorganisation contributed to significant failures in maintaining key documents such as invoices and receipts, leading to further scrutiny of the charity’s financial practices.
Recovery of Funds and Dissolution of Fashion for Relief
In light of these findings, the Charity Commission recovered over £400,000 from Fashion for Relief, which has been used to settle the charity’s outstanding liabilities. The remaining balance has been redirected to other charitable causes, including Save the Children Fund and the Mayor’s Fund for London. Both of these organisations had previously raised concerns about mismanagement at Fashion for Relief.
The charity was officially dissolved earlier this year and removed from Britain’s list of registered charities. Tim Hopkins, Deputy Director at the Charity Commission, remarked, “Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity’s best interests and to comply with their legal duties. Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so.”
Campbell’s Response and Continuing Recognition
Upon learning of the investigation’s findings, Naomi Campbell expressed concern and confusion. She said, “I’ve just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned. We are investigating to find out what and how.” Campbell also clarified that she had placed control of the charity in the hands of legal professionals and emphasised her commitment to charitable causes.
Despite the controversy, Campbell was recently recognised for her contributions to the arts, receiving France’s prestigious Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters award. The honour came just as news broke of her five-year ban as a charity trustee, placing her in a unique spotlight as both a celebrated icon and a figure under scrutiny.
Moving Forward
The fallout from the Charity Commission’s investigation serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with charitable work. Mismanagement of funds can have lasting impacts on an organisation’s credibility and, ultimately, the causes it seeks to support. For Naomi Campbell, this marks a significant chapter in her philanthropic career that will likely shape her future endeavours in the charity sector.
