The money provides further funding for the charity's Concurrent Planning Adoption Programme and its parent's centre in north London.

The Concurrent Planning Adoption Programme aims to speed up permanent family placements for children involved in court proceedings. The charity's parents' centre in Camden includes specialist help for young fathers and a drop-in centre.

Coram said the donation, which includes £80,000 from the underwriters Marketform, is one of the biggest one-off corporate donations it has received.