The Charity Commission has confirmed that it has appointed interim managers at Fashion for Relief, a charity set up by Naomi Campbell, during its statutory inquiry.
It opened an inquiry into the charity in November 2021 over concerns of “potential misconduct and/or mismanagement.”
The regulator has now confirmed that, in March last year, it used its legal powers to appoint two interim managers to the exclusion of the trustees, including Campbell.
Edwina Turner and Phil Watts from Anthony Collins Solicitors have been appointed to take charge of the operations at the charity, including the management of its finances, operations and events.
The Commission said it was unable to comment any further while the inquiry is ongoing.
Potential conflicts of interest
The regulator opened its statutory inquiry into Fashion for Relief, which raises funds for other charities through fashion galas sometimes starring Campbell, after a compliance case in September 2020 identified concerns.
Its concerns included the consistent filing of accounts late and a lack of evidence to show that conflicts of interests were being managed correctly.
Several charities that Fashion for Relief has fundraised for have complained of not receiving thousands of pounds in promised funds from its charity events.
Trustee remuneration
The Commission said its appointment of interim managers was to the exclusion of the trustees, who are Campbell and lawyer Bianka Hellmich.
Fashion for Relief’s phone number on the Charity Commission’s website was formerly that of QCL Associates LLP, a legal company of which Hellmich is a partner. The number now redirects to Anthony Collins Solicitors.
Civil Society News contacted Fashion for Relief for comment, and one of the interim managers confirmed their placement at the charity.
According to the charity’s financial accounts for the year ending July 2020, Hellmich received over £106,000 in consultancy fees and over £65,000 in travel expenses for that year. In 2018-19, Hellmich received £77,000.
Its latest accounts ending in July 2021 show a total income of £22,107 against an expenditure of £99,100. No trustees received remuneration for this financial year.
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