A Black Country company has developed a unique child safety
wristband which is set to enhance security at theme parks, holiday
resorts, entertainment complexes, crèches, play arenas and
health facilities across the country.
Childminder's wristband is a state-of-the-art, secure, re-usable
reinforced device which signals a parent, carer or guardian in real
time when a child is leaving a venue or building - the only
security system of its kind to do so. It also ensures that lost or
separated children are swiftly reunited with their parents.
The innovative product has been designed specifically for use in
conjunction with existing, established technology and requires no
batteries or physical maintenance. And it does not rely on new or
complex location-tracking, Wi-Fi or Radio Frequency technology so
is cost effective to install in any type of venue.
Developed by Wolverhampton based Childminder Security Systems,
with the support of a £20,000 micro grant from Regional
Development Agency Advantage West Midlands, the high-tech product
and system has been successfully implemented at Wonderland theme
park in Telford; Shropshire's largest visitor attraction.
Sally Stallard, Managing Director of Childminder, and a mother
of two young children, said: "Until now, there has been no
practical and affordable solution which adequately helps to prevent
young children from leaving a public place without the knowledge of
their parent, carer or guardian.
"While alarm systems in general terms are well established,
there was a need for an affordable wristband for use in conjunction
with these systems; a comfortable option which could be properly
secured to a child.
"Our product is more cost effective than comparable alternatives
and is the only option to offer real time alerts when a child
leaves a venue; it also ensures that lost children are reunited
with parents without distress by linking a child's wristband to the
mobile number of their parent or teacher."
Belinda Griffiths, owner and Director of Telford's Wonderland,
said: "We are very proud to be the first leisure venue to implement
Childminder's exciting new product. It's a success story of two
entrepreneurial organisations coming together in the face of the
economic downturn to address an important problem for our industry
and we are sure that it will not be long before this system becomes
commonplace.
"Feedback from our visitors has been excellent. Parents
seem to enjoy their visit more and teachers gain valuable assurance
for their pre-excursion risk assessments. We are able to hire out
the wristbands and so for us they create a new revenue stream and
more than pay for themselves."
Sally Stallard went on to say: "The wristband itself includes a
ferrite core which we needed to develop and test. We also needed to
optimise the design to ensure user compatibility and establish the
most appropriate type and grade of plastic for volume injection
moulding manufacturing methods.
"I am delighted by the support we have received from Advantage
West Midlands. The grant enabled us to work with a technical
specialist to develop a truly unique and innovative product, and
from there we have been able to move forward quickly.
"The trial at Wonderland has been a success and we are now
in negotiations with a number of well known venues, facilities and
organisations across the UK who are impressed with Childminder
Security System's simplicity and cost-effectiveness. We are
starting a website called www.funvenues.com where the general
public will be able to search for venues offering appropriate child
safety services.
"The wristbands are not a substitute for parental care and
responsibility but we are aiming to provide guardians and venues
with more options and freedom of choice to better protect
children.
"The potential market is enormous and includes the healthcare
sector, to which we will supply our baby tagging, pediatric
security and adult care systems to help with infection prevention,
identity control and security needs. We have high hopes for the
future."
Steve Hines, Grants Case Officer at Advantage West Midlands,
said: "The Grant for Research and Development is designed
specifically to support innovative businesses like Childminder, to
help them develop the new products, processes and services which
are essential to the successful economic future of the region.
"For companies like Childminder, innovation drives their
economic growth and we are delighted to support this project which
will provide a significant advance in technology.
"I am pleased that Advantage West Midlands has been able
to share some of the risks of this innovation. We aim to make a
difference by encouraging commitment to the progression of new
ideas and by enabling work to be done earlier than companies could
otherwise afford.
"In some cases the availability of grant support also acts as a
lever for external investment into some early stage enterprises
either in the form of capital or borrowings.
"This project supports the goals of the West Midlands Economic
Strategy to build a diverse and dynamic business base, improve
enterprise performance and develop the knowledge economy.
"In addition, the project falls under the Medical
Technologies and Tourism and Leisure Clusters and is based in the
Telford / Wolverhampton High Technology Corridor."
Grant for Research and Development (GRD) is a long-established
BERR business support product available to SME companies and
individuals developing a technologically innovative product or
service. It is available across the whole region and applications
to Advantage West Midlands can be accepted at any time. Details can
be found at www.advantagewm.co.uk/grd
Childminder Security Systems Limited is based in Perton, near
Wolverhampton.