How a Conversation in Bournemouth Sparked a New Way to Protect Communities
Every day across the UK, people face scams, online threats and fraudulent messages that can cause real financial and emotional harm. Carers, in particular, are often targeted because they juggle heavy responsibilities, constant time pressure and the wellbeing of someone they love. During Carers Rights Week, Bridgit Care founder Darren Crombie travelled to Bournemouth expecting discussions about carer support — but instead discovered something that would lead to one of the most innovative safety tools his team has ever created. A simple conversation at a table next to him revealed a need far bigger than anyone in the room had realised.
A Chance Meeting That Became Something Bigger
While attending a community event, Darren noticed a steady flow of people gathering around Damian, a Dorset Police officer specialising in fraud and online safety. They asked about scams, suspicious emails, banking fraud and AI-generated threats. Damian answered every question with clarity and reassurance. He broke complex information into simple steps and made people feel safe — something not everyone experiences when trying to get help with digital threats.
As Darren listened, he saw a deeper issue. Many carers are extremely vulnerable to scams, yet very few areas have someone like Damian available. Access to good advice depends on where you live, whether you can attend events and how well you understand official guidance. Even language can be a barrier. That morning made something clear: people desperately needed the kind of support Damian was giving, but it wasn’t available consistently across the UK.
What began as a friendly chat soon grew into a shared ambition. Darren and Damian stood between their tables, talking about emerging scam patterns, deepfake voices, cloned identities and the confusion caused by rapid changes in technology. Together, they started exploring a simple, powerful idea:
“What if this advice could be available 24/7, in every language, through a single phone number?”
Building the First Version of the Dorset Police AI Safety Coach
The idea felt natural. Bridgit already uses voice-based AI coaching to help carers navigate health, social care, benefits and wellbeing. Extending that model to online safety made immediate sense. With Damian’s leaflets, police guidance and web resources spread across the table, Darren began sketching out how it could work.
Within minutes, the vision became clear:
a voice AI coach called “Damian,” trained on trusted Dorset Police content, available day and night to anyone who needs it.
Darren stepped aside and began building a prototype then and there. The hardest parts — multilingual access, knowledge-base linking and voice delivery — already existed in the Bridgit platform. All he needed was the content Damian had been sharing that morning.
In less than 20 minutes, the first working version was ready. The real test came when a visitor asked for help about an online fraud situation and spoke in Hindi. Darren dialled the new coach, and the AI immediately listened, translated and responded in clear, warm Hindi, offering accurate and practical advice. It was a powerful moment that showed what this tool could become.
Why This Innovation Matters for Carers and Communities
Fraud can be frightening. Many people feel embarrassed to ask for help, unsure where to report incidents or overwhelmed by technical language. Carers face even more pressure, because they must protect both themselves and the person they support. Yet guidance is scattered, outdated or difficult to understand.
The Dorset Police AI coach changes that.
It offers:
clear, jargon-free advice
instant translation into any language
step-by-step safety guidance
examples of real scams
simple reporting instructions
reassurance at any time of day
It also includes a transparent disclaimer: it provides general safety advice, not investigative support, and directs users straight to Dorset Police for emergencies or formal reporting. This balance helps keep the tool safe, trusted and accessible.
As more people test the coach, feedback is shaping the next steps. The plan is to integrate it into Bridgit’s Generation 2 platform so carers can access online safety help alongside their health and wellbeing tools. The project is already sparking interest from councils and police teams across the country.
A Conversation That Opened the Door to the Future
The AI safety coach did not begin with a strategy meeting or a long development plan. It began with a conversation between two people who wanted to protect their communities. Darren’s journey to Bournemouth was meant to support carers, but instead it uncovered a wider need — one that affects people in every part of the UK.
This project shows what can happen when lived experience, community policing and accessible technology meet in the right moment. It proves that safety information does not need to be hidden in leaflets, lost online or trapped behind jargon. It can be available instantly, in any language, through a warm and friendly voice.
And it all started at a table in Bournemouth — with two people who believed that everyone deserves to feel safe.
