Helping You Home
After feeling lost and unsafe abroad, entrepreneur Grainne Bankhead turned her experience into Help You Home – an innovative app and wristband designed to keep travellers safe, confident and connected.
Where the Idea Came From
“You’ve just launched Help You Home. Can you tell us how the idea first came to you and how it grew from there?”
The idea came after I got lost abroad and you feel how quickly anxiety takes over when you don’t feel safe and don’t know where to turn. It was a horrible feeling that stuck with me. At the time, I realised there was nothing out there that focused specifically on travel safety.
I sketched out a rough doodle in a notebook, which turned into a no-code prototype, and has now grown into a fully working app and wristband. For me, it’s always been about giving people confidence, independence and freedom when they travel so they never have to feel the way I did in that moment.
How the App Works
The app combines panic alerts, location sharing and an emergency wristband.
- Panic alarm: Sounds loudly with flashing lights to draw attention. If it isn’t deactivated within 30 seconds, the app automatically sends an alert with your location to your chosen emergency contacts.
- Silent option: You can also choose to silence it straight away with a PIN, which stops the noise but still triggers the same alert.
- Seamless location sharing: Lets you quickly send your location if you get separated and need to tell someone where you are.
- Navigation help: Saves accommodation details, so one tap gets you instant directions back.
- Emergency wristband: Gives peace of mind if your phone is lost or stolen. A quick scan shows your chosen contacts and medical information so the right people can be reached quickly.
Early Recognition
“You’ve already had recognition from Innovate NI. What did it mean to receive a Silver Innovation award before the app even launched?”
The recognition was a real surprise. I applied for the assessment mainly to see where I stood and to access support from different organisations. I never expected it would result in a Silver award. Getting that recognition so early gave me a huge lift and confirmed there is a genuine need for Help You Home.
Who Benefits Most?
Who do you see benefiting most from Help You Home?
Parents, young adults, solo travellers? Solo travellers and young adults are a big focus, as they often find themselves in unfamiliar places. Moving for university, taking a year out, or heading away with a group of friends can bring worries about safety.
Parents also gain peace of mind knowing their child has a tool that connects them directly if something goes wrong, whether they are travelling abroad, at a festival, or away on a group trip. As someone who knows what it feels like to be lost and anxious, I want to ensure no one else has to go through that alone.
What’s Next for the App
What’s next for you and the app?
There are future developments and plans I’m especially excited about. Right now, I am working on bringing the iOS version to market and building partnerships with travel groups, universities and travel clinics so more people can access the app easily.
Looking further ahead, I want to add more accessibility features that help vulnerable people keep their independence while giving their families the reassurance that they are safe.
Further down the line I would love to introduce AI features that can recognise when someone may need help and give guidance on safer routes, adding another layer of reassurance without the user having to ask for it.
My bigger goal is to change how people experience travel so they feel safe, supported and free to enjoy every moment.
🌍 Help You Home – Your Safe Travel Buddy
🔗 www.helpyouhomeapp.com
