The money was given through the Parenting Fund, which is distributed by the Family & Parenting Institute, on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

It has been spent on a range of activities from employing extra outreach staff to help families in rural areas to creating family groups for teenage mums and parents of disabled children.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes said: "The Parenting Fund has helped many organisations provide support for those families who have needed help."

"It has played a significant role in enabling good voluntary organisations to grow and develop their services for parents."

Mary MacLeod, chief executive of the Family & Parenting Institute said: "We are delighted the Parenting Fund has reached so many people."

"But it's not just about numbers, every person who benefited from this project has their own story to tell about what the Parenting Fund has done for them."