In 2005, Jon Aldenton was appointed to salvage this Dalston charity, which was £1.4m in debt and going out of business fast.
The staffing, governance and finances were completely restructured; European funding paid for a £1.4m refurbishment scheme; a long lease was taken on an adjoining warehouse.
Bootstrap is now financially secure, houses 600 people working in voluntary organisations and creative industries, and is making a key contribution to the local economy whilst tackling disadvantage through charitable activities.