Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Friends have an apptitude for business
Anti-bullying idea turning heads
TWO teenage entrepreneurs are impressing the business world with a new anti-bullying app.
Gareth Wright and Mason Robinson, both 17, hope the Pocket Pal will help young people get the practical help they need to fight the bullies. The app gives victims tips for dealing with bullying as well as adding an emergency button that allows them to directly connect to a Childline administrator. Gareth and Mason, from East Belfast, became pals over Facebook less than a year ago, and realising they had a mutual interest in business decided there was a market to corner. Initially contacting O2 with their idea, the pair were flown over to London and given £500 to get it started. A prototype has been developed and a number of business people have already made donations. The pair now hope to raise £5,000 worth of investment over the coming months as well as showing other young people that, no matter your background, business success is possible. Gareth said: “We were having a coffee in Clements coffee shop at Ballyhackamore when the idea popped into our head. “That afternoon we started researching it and Mason emailed O2. “Mason, from Knocknagoney, is still at Ashfield Boys School and I left Dundonald High School to start up a small business. We are both really identical to each other. “We don’t go out at the weekend drinking and smoking, we are just interested in business and trying to make a difference. “I am from a loyalist area in Dundonald and also want to show that it doesn’t make a difference where you come from.” For more information visit www.the pocketpalapp.co.uk