Luxury hotels, spa treatments

Naomi Campbell's charity faces inquiry over funds spent on perks

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been banned from serving as a trustee of any charity for five years after a Charity Commission inquiry revealed significant financial misconduct in her organisation, Fashion for Relief. According to BBC, the ban follows Unicef UK's revelation that it had no official partnership with the charity, despite claims that funds raised from a high-profile 2019 event would benefit the global children's organisation.

The scandal emerged after Unicef UK filed a serious incident report in 2022, noting that it had never received any donations from the Fashion for Relief event, which featured a catwalk show and auction at the British Museum. This event was also marketed as supporting the Mayor's Fund for London, a claim that led to further scrutiny from the Charity Commission.

The inquiry found that instead of directing funds to charitable causes, Fashion for Relief spent large sums on luxury hotels, security, spa treatments, and even cigarettes for Campbell herself. Unauthorised payments were also made to other trustees, leading to the ban of Campbell's fellow board members, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, from charity involvement for nine and four years, respectively.

Fashion for Relief has now been removed from the register of charities, marking a significant fall from grace for the high-profile charity founded by Campbell in 2005.

Reacting to the Charity Commission's findings, Campbell expressed her shock and concern. Speaking to the AP news agency, she stated, "I've just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned." Campbell emphasised that she was not the person "in control" of the charity's finances and maintained her innocence, asserting that she had never engaged in any form of financial misconduct.

Her spokesperson reiterated that Campbell "has never claimed to be a representative of Unicef" and clarified that while talks for a potential collaboration had occurred, no official partnership ever materialised. They also addressed claims that Campbell was referred to as a Unicef "envoy" during a 2018 meeting with then-foreign secretary Boris Johnson, attributing the title to an erroneous press release issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The inquiry followed complaints from both the Mayor's Fund for London and Save the Children Fund, who reported that they were owed money from Fashion for Relief events. Unicef UK, having discovered the false association, reported the charity to the Charity Commission as part of its statutory requirements.

In a statement, Unicef UK stressed the importance of fundraising compliance and noted that Campbell had never held any official role or title with their organisation. The charity further clarified that ambassadorial roles are awarded only after "many years of commitment and support."

As Campbell navigates the fallout from the inquiry, her spokesperson confirmed that she has initiated a legal review of the situation. They emphasised that for over three decades, the model has been dedicated to charitable causes "always with the sole intention of helping others and never for personal gain."

Despite the turmoil surrounding Fashion for Relief, Campbell remains firm in her commitment to charity work. However, with the charity now removed from the register and its trustees banned, the future of the supermodel's philanthropic endeavours hangs in the balance.