British supermodel Naomi Campbell 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.' The Charity Commission found the charity to have been poorly governed with inadequate financial management.
The investigation revealed multiple instances of misconduct and mismanagement, with only 8.5% of the charity's expenditure going towards charitable grants over a six-year period. One concerning finding was the use of charity funds to pay for Campbell's luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, along with spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes.
Campbell expressed concern over the regulator's findings and stated that an investigation on her part was underway. She claimed that she was not in control of the charity's finances and had delegated that responsibility to a legal employer.
Another trustee, Bianka Hellmich, received unauthorized funds totaling around 290,000 pounds for consultancy services, breaching the charity's constitution. Hellmich has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years, while the third trustee, Veronica Chou, received a four-year ban.
The Charity Commission emphasized that trustees are legally obligated to act in the charity's best interests and comply with their duties. Due to the failure of the trustees to do so, the charity was dissolved earlier this year.
Despite the financial mismanagement, the commission managed to recover 344,000 pounds and protect an additional 98,000 pounds of charitable funds. These funds were used to make donations to other charities and settle outstanding liabilities.
'Fashion for Relief,' founded in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, aimed to unite the fashion industry to support global causes. The charity organized initiatives in various cities worldwide, raising over $15 million for charitable purposes.
The Charity Commission's deputy director, Tim Hopkins, expressed satisfaction that donations were made to other charities previously supported by 'Fashion for Relief.'
