The Vodafone Foundation has teamed up with Bay of Plenty Sexual Assault Support Services to develop an app for young people who find themselves in unsafe or uncomfortable situations.

The app, based on the Easy Rescue App originally developed by Vodafone Turkey, can immediately send an alert and geo-tagged location message to a trusted network of family and friends.

BOPSASS Eastern Bay of Plenty services manager Cindy Lee says 50 per cent of their client base is under 20 years old, while a quarter are under 12.

'As horrific as that is, it's a good sign younger people are getting help. I think 20 years ago that wouldn't be the case. We are seeing teenagers come and get support for sexual assault they have experienced, and with the help they've received they are able to start to heal and find a better pathway forward.”

She says the purpose of the app is develop a tool teenagers would use.

'In our consultation they said they wouldn't call 111 if they needed help. It's not part of their fabric of life – talking to grown-ups on the phone is too scary. But they would use a phone app where they press a button or some kind of message that would get them help.

'So the idea is for them to get help before they really need it, so once they start to feel vulnerable they can press the app or a button to get help from friends, or if in dire need maybe 111, so hopefully they can get help before the harm happens.”

The Turkish app Easy Rescue operates by simply shaking the phone to send a geo-based location information alert, making it easy to use.

'It could help create a culture where we're looking out for each other, with less silence around things like this,” says Cindy.

'Some families are going through a lot of different kinds of violence, so this could be a tool that could be used at any time when they feel vulnerable to make people feel less alone. Even if we could only prevent it for one person it will be worth it.”

BOPSASS, along with other community groups around the country, will receive grants of $15,000 to cover their expenses during the six-week Change Accelerator programme based at Vodafone's Christchurch Innov8 centre.

They will also be invited to apply for the Vodafone Foundation's Innovation Fund at the end of the accelerator.