The annual Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) fundraising gala dinner last night raised £14.1m, the third consecutive year it has fallen.

This year’s event fell behind last year’s total of £15.6m, which was significantly down on the 2008 event and 2007 totals of £25.5m and £26m respectively.

The charity also announced the launch of two new health programmes for mothers in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and outlined its education programmes in India and South Africa alongside updating supporters on the development of the academies programme. 

Arpad Busson, founding chairman of Ark, said that the charity’s trustees “are stunned by the generosity of Ark’s supporters”.

An Ark spokeswoman did not respond to Civil Society's request for comment on how the fall in fundraising may affect the charity's operations.