Naomi Campbell clears charity trustee ban after tribunal finds she was deceived by co-trustee

Key points

• A First-Tier Tribunal panel ruled on Thursday that Naomi Campbell was not involved in or aware of the serious misconduct at her charity, Fashion for Relief.
• The tribunal found that co-trustee Bianka Hellmich concealed the most serious instances of misconduct, including forging Campbell's signature and using a fake email address to misdirect funds.
• Campbell was previously banned from being a charity trustee for five years in 2024 after the Charity Commission found serious mismanagement and misconduct at Fashion for Relief.
• The charity, founded in 2005 to help Hurricane Katrina victims, was shut in 2023 after an inquiry revealed it was not passing on enough raised money to causes.
• The tribunal acknowledged Campbell failed to maintain minutes and file accounts on time but ruled this was insufficient to disqualify her as a trustee.
• The panel confirmed Campbell did not know about specific luxury expenses, such as hotel and spa charges in France, which were paid from charity funds.

Background

This case follows the 2023 closure of Fashion for Relief and the subsequent 2024 ban imposed on Campbell and two other trustees by the Charity Commission. The charity was established in 2005 to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina and later supported various disaster relief campaigns. The current appeal marks the final legal resolution of the dispute regarding the charity's financial mismanagement and the personal liability of its founders.

Why it matters

The ruling sets a precedent for how charity trustees are held accountable when co-trustees engage in sophisticated deception. It highlights the importance of due diligence and record-keeping in charitable organizations, while also demonstrating that individual trustees may be exempt from disqualification if they can prove they were unaware of and did not facilitate the misconduct. The case also underscores the Charity Commission's role in protecting beneficiaries, as its intervention ensured nearly £250,000 was returned to charities like Save the Children.

What to watch

The Charity Commission has stated it will reflect on the tribunal's decision and consider any wider implications for its regulatory work. Campbell has indicated she intends to resume her charitable activities, focusing on serving communities and causes she has long supported. No further legal action is expected from Campbell, while Hellmich has not responded to the latest ruling.