Despite a difficult year for the sector the Retail Trust Ball has raised over £1m for the trust.

Nigel J L Rothband, the chief executive of Retail Trust, declared that the event and its fundraising total was “amazing”, but Civil Society has been informed that the £1,035,350 total was down on last year’s final sum.

Held at Grosvenor House in London, the event was attended by 1,200 people including leading retail figures such as Sir Philip Green (pictured left), chief executive of Arcadia, Harold Tillman, chairman of the UK Fashion Council, and Michelle Mone, founder of MJM International.

Sir Philip made the largest personal donation of £125,000 and corporate donations were received from major retailers including House of Fraser, M&S, John Lewis and ASOS.

The remaining money was raised via a combination of ticket sales, corporate contributions, personal donations, and fundraising initiatives on the night including a silent auction, table raffle, heads and tails game and scratchcards.

Demand for the charity’s support and advice service has increased dramatically and calls to the Retail Trust helpline have more than doubled in recent months.

Retail Trust’s Rothband said: “Threats to the retail sector, and therefore retail staff, have never been higher. We need to ensure we act as a safety net for all people in retail who need us and that we have funds and services in place to help when needed.”

The evening also featured the final of the Retail Search for a Star with Mastercard competition with the four finalists taking the stage and Alice Galloway, a House of Fraser supervisor from Chichester taking home the top prize.