TapSOS

Sometimes a telephone call for help can be a struggle for the impaired or those living in domestic fear. TapSOS provides an inclusive and vital, non-verbal lifeline with the full support of the emergency services at your fingertips.

In the UK, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 people suffer with hearing loss, 1 in 3 stroke survivors experience difficulty speaking, and 5 in every 100 people struggle with social phobia. These are some of the biggest challenges in reporting emergency situations to 999.

TapSOS is an SMS-based solution for requesting emergency services without needing to speak or listen to an operator. Founded by Becca Hume, and inspired by her friendships within the deaf community, the app enables anyone to report an emergency to police, ambulance, fire, and coast guard, with all reports actioned by trained 999 handlers.

With support from the Sustainable Innovation Fund, Becca was able to further develop the TapSOS technology to rapidly adapt to evolving situations during the Covid-19 pandemic. With cases of domestic abuse rising – 1.6 million women and 757,000 men are understood to have been subjected to domestic abuse within just

12 months – the funding supported the design, build, and testing of a new app to deliver a more inclusive solution to enable anyone to contact 999 securely and discreetly.