Founded in 1996, the charity was set up to provide support to vulnerable and deprived inner city children and young people. At the time of its closure the charity employed more than 600 people and worked across a number of cities in the UK. In its years of operation it received more than £42 million of public funding. Its founder, the colourful Camila Batmanghelidjh, was its chief executive for 19 years and was awarded a CBE for her services to the charity and young people.