Naomi Campbell banned from representing charity: Money went to luxury hotels and spas
Model Naomi Campbell has been banned from being a charity trustee after it was revealed that charity funds were spent on luxury hotels and spa treatments.
An investigation by the Charity Commission found that Fashion for Relief was not passing on as much money as it should have. Instead, it was spent on cigarettes and security for Campbell and other unauthorized payments to one of her fellow charity trustees.
“I just found out about the findings today and I’m extremely concerned,” Campbell, 54, told the AP news agency.
She added that she is not the person who “controls” the charity, she writes BBC.
Fundraising promises have not been fulfilled
The model was banned from doing charity work for five years, while two other trustees, Bjanka Helmič and Veronika Ćou, were banned for nine years and four years, respectively.
The investigation revealed that unauthorized payments totaling £290,000 for consultancy services were made to Bianca Helmic, in breach of the charity’s constitution.
While Helmich proactively proposed the return of these funds, interim managers appointed by the Commission secured repayment to the charity.
Pound money, coins (Pexels)
Investigators have recovered nearly £345,000 from the charity and safeguards have been put in place for a further £98,000 of the charity’s money.
The funds were used for payments to two other charitable organizations – the Fund Save the Children and the London Mayor’s Fund – and to cover the costs of Fashion for Relief’s obligations.
The investigation, which considered costs Fashion for Relief between April 2016 and July 2022 showed that only 8.5 percent of the funds raised were spent on charitable donations.
Appeals and disqualification
After the opening of the investigation, both the Save the Children Fund and the London Mayor’s Fund filed complaints with the commission.
Fashion for Relief held fundraising events for two charities, but an investigation found it failed to manage its partnership arrangements.
Tim Hopkins, who was part of the investigation team, said in a statement: “Trustees are bound by law to make decisions that are in the best interests of their charity and to comply with their legal obligations and responsibilities.”
“Our investigation found that the trustees of this charity did not do so, resulting in our action to disqualify them,” he added.
Fashion for Relief was removed from the charity register on 15 March 2024.
Source: BIZLife
Photo: Screenshot YT
Source: bizlife.rs
