New mobile APP launched to help children in care by local North Devon Business

Cllr Ian Roome, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon was asked to officially launch a new mobile App called B-Herd by locally based childcare business Blue Elephant.

B-Herd is an App that sits on the mobile phones of all the children in the care of Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd. This exciting innovative mobile App allows the children to chat with each other across all the children homes within the Blue Elephant Ltd portfolio. Some of the practical uses of the App are arranging trips out and meeting up with friends and allow general safe communication between staff and children.

Keith Burley, Managing Director of Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd said,  “B-Herd App's development delivers many facets, for example, we all know it can be hard for kids to tell others about their problems and how they are feeling, B-Herd allows kids to directly message specific staff, even if they are sat in the same room or if they are upstairs laying on their bed and staff are downstairs in the kitchen. At times texting is so much easier than speaking face to face.

But there is more, the App has a ‘Help’ button where, if kids find themselves in a situation where they are uncomfortable or even in danger, pressing the button sends a message to their staff including a GPS position. Staff can then phone them back and help them get out of the situation they find themselves in.”

Cllr Ian Roome said, “This is an example of a valued local North Devon business who show exemplary care for our children in care. I was impressed to learn that the B-Herd App continues to support those who have left Blue Elephant Childcare and this alumni helps breakdown the loneliness and fear that leaving the care system has on children.

I am a strong believer that we as a society need to do more to help care leavers, to soften the cliff and provide them with the care, guidance and support needed to ensure they become great adults in our society. Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd are an example of a local North Devon business that invests in the children that they care for and continue to invest in our local North Devon Economy. I was very impressed by the positive comments from those children in care about the dedicated staff who the company employ.”