Supermodel and actress Naomi Elaine Campbell, has been banned from being a charity trustee for five years, after a watchdog investigation found evidence of financial misconduct at a charity she founded – Fashion For Relief.
The funds raised for the charity were spent on lavish hotels, including £7000 spent for three nights in a five-star hotel and spa treatments.
A Charity Commission enquiry found out that Fashion for Relief was not distributing the funds raised to the extent that was initially intended.
The money was instead used to stay at lavish hotels, including spa treatments, cigarettes and personal security for Naomi Campbell.
In her defense, she told sources, “I’ve just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned”.
Naomi added that she was not the person “in control” of the charity.
She has however been banned from charity involvement for five years with two other trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, being banned for nine years and four years respectively.
The Commission had recovered over £344,000 and protected a further £98,000 of charitable funds. The funds were allocated to contribute to two additional charities and to clear the charity’s existing debts.
The investigation revealed that from April 2016 to July 2022 only 8.5% the charity’s total spending was allocated to charitable grants.
The enquiry saw no evidence that trustees had reviewed the charity’s operating model to ensure fundraising methods were in the charity’s best interest and costs were reasonable relative to income generated.
Furthermore, it was found that some of the charity’s fundraising costs were unreasonable.
