The British authorities have temporarily banned Naomi Campbell from managing charities in England and Wales, British media report. The supervisory authorities conducted an investigation into the “Fashion for Relief” organization founded by the model. It was supposed to prove that the collected funds were used to pay for, among others: stays in luxury hotels, spa treatments and even cigarettes.
Naomi Campbell has been banned from managing charities for five years England and Wales after the proceedings regarding the organization she founded, “Fashion for Relief”, showed that funds collected for noble purposes were spent incorrectly. Similar restrictions were applied to two other members of the “Fashion for Relief” management – Bianca Hellmich and Veronica Chou. In the case of the former, the ban is to apply for 9 years, and in the case of the latter, for 4 years.
Decisions on the bans were issued by the British supervisory authority – The Charity Commission. It regulates the functioning of charitable organizations in the country. His investigation showed that in the years 2016-2022 only 8.5 percent of “Fashion for Relief” funds were to be donated to charity – writes the BBC. During the investigation, unauthorized payments to Bianca Hellmich in the amount of £290,000 (equivalent to approximately PLN 1.5 million) and expenses on luxury hotels, spa treatments, private security for Naomi Campbell, and even cigarettes were discovered.
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Irregularities at Naomi Campbell's charity
As Tim Hopkins, one of the members of the investigative team, emphasizes in a statement quoted by the BBC, managers are “legally obliged to make decisions that are in the best interests of charities.” Meanwhile, an investigation by The Charity Commission found that those in charge of the organization founded by Campbell “failed in this duty.”
The model founded “Fashion for Relief” in 2005. The purpose of the organization was to raise funds for humanitarian purposes by organizing fashion shows and other events.
Naomi CampbellReynaud Julien/APS-Medias/ABACA/PAP
Asked to comment on the case by AP, Naomi Campbell said she “only learned about the results (of the investigation) today and is very concerned.” The model added that she was “not the person controlling her organization.” The Charity Commission reported that it secured approximately £400,000 (PLN 2 million) from “Fashion for Relief” funds. Part of the money was used to pay outstanding liabilities, the remaining amount was donated to other charities.
Currently, Fashion for Relief is no longer listed on the UK register of charities.
Main photo source: Reynaud Julien/APS-Medias/ABACA/PAP