Norwood raised £2.8m at its annual fundraising dinner on Monday night, but the figure is 15 per cent down on last year's record-breaking total.

The figure is down by £500,000 on last year’s total of £3.3m which the charity puts down to the economic climate. Last year the learning disability charity also made a special appeal after revealing it need to reduce spending to the tune of £3m due to local authority cuts. This year's figure still represents an increase on the 2009 event, however, at which it raised £2.7m. 

A Norwood spokesman told civilsociety.co.uk: “We are extremely pleased at the generosity shown by the community at our annual dinner and would like to thank them for their support. £2.8m represents a significant chunk of the voluntary income we need to raise this year and in the economic climate is a significant achievement.”

It was the first official engagement for new chief executive Elaine Kerr, who said: “Our challenges at this time are great and the needs of our community are growing.”

The event was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel and hosted by mayor of London Boris Johnson (pictured). Celebrities who attended included Alesha Dixon, Theo Paphitis and Karren Brady.