Naomi Campbell wins appeal to overturn five-year charity trustee ban

A London tribunal has ruled that Naomi Campbell should not be barred from serving as a charity trustee after finding she was unaware of serious misconduct at the charity she founded.

The decision overturns a five-year disqualification that the Charity Commission for England and Wales imposed on Campbell in 2024. The Commission had concluded there was mismanagement and misuse of funds at Fashion for Relief, the fundraising organisation Campbell established, and that she had abdicated her responsibilities as a trustee.

Tribunal findings

The tribunal found that the wrongful handling of funds and related misconduct had been concealed from Campbell, and that she did not know about the problems identified by the regulator. The Guardian reported that judges concluded she had been unaware of the serious misconduct. The Independent said the tribunal found Campbell had been “deceived” by a fellow trustee; the Daily Maverick similarly reported that the tribunal determined the misuse of funds had been hidden from her.

What the Charity Commission had said

In 2024 the Charity Commission disqualified Campbell from acting as a charity trustee for five years after concluding there had been mismanagement at Fashion for Relief and that she had failed to meet trustee responsibilities. The regulator oversees charities in England and Wales and has the power to remove individuals from trustee roles where it identifies governance failures.

Why the ruling matters

The tribunal’s decision restores Campbell’s eligibility to act as a trustee and sets aside the regulator’s disqualification. It raises questions about how oversight and information flow operate in celebrity‑led charities, and about the standards used to judge trustee culpability where trustees rely on others for day‑to‑day management.

Reactions and next steps

Reports do not indicate that the Charity Commission has yet commented on the tribunal ruling. The tribunal’s decision may influence how similar cases are handled in future and could prompt charities — particularly those involving high‑profile founders — to review governance arrangements and internal controls to ensure trustees receive accurate information.

Background on Fashion for Relief

Fashion for Relief is a fundraising initiative established by Campbell that has run benefit events and collections. The Charity Commission’s 2024 finding centred on financial mismanagement at the organisation, which led to the regulator’s move to disqualify Campbell. According to the tribunal rulings reported by news outlets, the commission’s findings were undermined by evidence that Campbell had been kept unaware of the misconduct.

Campbell’s legal victory ends the current disqualification but leaves broader questions about charity governance and the responsibilities of those who found and lend their names to charitable organisations.