Model Naomi Campbell has been banned from becoming a charity trustee after a watchdog found her charity funds were being used for luxury hotels and spa treatments.
An investigation by the Charity Commission found that Fashion for Relief was not giving away as much of the money it raised as it should have.
Instead, the money was used to pay for Campbell’s cigarettes, security fees, and other fraudulent payments to one of the charity’s directors.
Mr Campbell, 54, was banned from engaging in charity work for five years, while two other trustees, Bianca Helmich and Veronica Chow, were banned for nine years and four years respectively.
Representatives from British Models were contacted by the BBC.
The investigation revealed that Mr Helmich had been made fraudulent payments totaling £290,000 for consulting services, which was in breach of the charity’s terms.
Mr. Helmich had actively proposed repaying these funds, but interim administrators appointed by the commission secured repayment to the charity.
Approximately £345,000 was recovered from the charity by investigators and protection was established for a further £98,000.
The funds are being used to cover payments to two other charities, Save the Children Fund and the Mayor of London Fund, as well as the cost of Fashion for Relief’s debt.
The study looked at Fashion for Relief’s spending from April 2016 to July 2022 and found that only 8.5% of the funds raised went to grants to charities. It turned out.
After the investigation began, both the Save the Children Fund and the Mayor of London’s Fund lodged complaints with the Commission regarding Fashion for Relief.
Fashion for Relief held fundraising events for two charities, but an investigation found it had no control over the partnership agreements.
Tim Hopkins, a member of the research team, said in a statement: “Managers are legally required to make decisions that are in the best interests of the charity and comply with their legal obligations and responsibilities.” said.
He added: “Our investigation found that the charity’s administrators failed to do so and as a result we took steps to disqualify them.”
Fashion for Relief was removed from the charity register on 15 March 2024.