Lost and Found

What’s your idea?

Lost and Found is a simple, innovative mobile app to connect young people to services and support. Users are asked “What have you lost?” and can respond with pre-set answers covering different issues e.g. “I’ve lost my head” (mental health) and “I’ve lost my job” (employment & training).

Users input part of their postcode – “Found” – and get a customised Google-map of all the relevant services around them with information on opening hours, contact details etc. Users will be able to post feedback and give a ‘youth friendly’ rating on the services.

What is the problem your idea could address?

Although there are a range of youth targeted services run by local authorities and third sector organisations the most vulnerable young people often fail to access them, either through lack of awareness or because they lack the confidence to.

Public and third sector support services, particularly at times of crisis, are vital to defer young people from self destructive and anti-social behaviour that can lead to contact with the criminal justice system. Lost and Found enables young people to find support as and when they need it.

What’s really new about your idea?

Lost and Found offers a completely new way to promote support services to young people. Rather than using posters and leaflets, often placed in areas young people don’t frequent, or relying on them to seek out information online when they may be at a crisis point it puts a gateway to local services in young people’s pockets.

Easy to use, stylish and well designed Lost and Found gives local services the ‘clickability factor’. Furthermore the review and rating system will give service providers continual feedback enabling them to make improvements that benefit young people.

What kind impact will you idea have?

There is a wide range of public and third sector services offering innovative and effective support to young people on the issues and challenges they face. However their impact is limited as they don’t effectively communicate what they offer to the most vulnerable young people.

The Lost and Found app means young people can find the support they need in a contemporary, innovative and undemanding way and get the support they need. Also the ability to comment on and rate a service embeds a culture of feedback that empowers young people.

Why might people what to commission or pay for your idea?

Public and third sector agencies expend a great deal of time and resources advertising and promoting their services but they are still not effectively communicating with vulnerable young people. Lost and Found represents a cost effective route for these organisations to be in the pockets and at the fingertips of the young people they want to support 24/7.

Organisations also spend considerable resources trying to get feedback from service users – Lost and Found’s comment and rating system builds on the model of other successful apps (see Urbanspoon) generating valuable information for organisations to improve their services.

What do you think the biggest challenge will be to making this work in practice?

Much of the functionality of Lost and Found rests on customising pre-existing software, particularly Google-maps, which should lower costs and aid development.

The three main practical challenges are designing a stimulating ‘Lost’ interface with the ‘clickability factor’; building a database of young people services so that the relevant information is displayed on the map and ensuring that the app is compatible across a range of handsets. However these challenges are surmountable and it will be possible to create a working prototype in a weekend.

What inspired you to come up with your idea in the first place?

Working in the third sector I understand that effective communication is vital to connect young people to the service they need and this has been an ongoing challenge for service providers. I am excited that the virtually ubiquitous mobile phone could transform the way young people find and access these services.

From 1-5, what stage of development would you say your idea was in

This idea is at stage 1

What can we do for you?

We need technical support and an opportunity to present to service providers when the app is developed.

We’re looking for project ideas that have the potential to be tested in a live environment. Please also give brief details of the kind of support you might need to do this?

Media for Development is currently developing a range of online advice and guidance sites, including one for young dads. There is the potential for the Lost and Found app to be tested in one of these projects.

Submitted by Christy McAleese.

Christy works at Media for Development, an organisation that uses media to empower and engage isolated communities.