If You See a Walkodile

Enterprising parents make their idea a reality

Elaine Stephen, a primary school teacher from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, simply wanted to make sure the young children under her care were as safe as possible when she took them out on walking trips.  

Field trips out of school sparked her initial idea for a child safety device to get pupils from A to B. Her concern – as well as a desire for a new challenge – saw Elaine visualising a product that would make her role more manageable, as well as keeping pupils safe in her care. This vision occupied her thoughts for many years but it wasn’t until July 2002 that she finally turned her talents to creation by drafting an outline of how her product might look.  

This date was a turning point and Walkodile® was finally born. Like most great products, its design is quite simple. The flexible yet robust central spine allows either four or six children to be clipped in using secure two-stage nylon safety connectors. With the aid of a comfortable and lightweight high-visibility harness, they get into position and simply hold a handle with one hand. Staff also wear high-visibility vests.  

On reaching their destination the children are simply unclipped from the central spine. However, they continue to wear their high-visibility harness for their lesson or play so they are more easily seen in large open spaces or built up areas. When they are finished, the children are clipped back into Walkodile® ready for their journey back to school or nursery.  

Elaine’s own journey has not been an easy one and in her own words, she couldn’t have done it without her husband John, who has offered his boundless support. He has led the charge in getting the product on the market and available to others just like Elaine. John is committed to introducing Walkodile® to other teachers, nursery owners, nursery staff and parents. He has built a formidable project team, knocked on many doors, taken the concept to possible users and pushed the boundaries to get their voice heard. Together they have put their heart and soul into creating a product that they trust will make a difference. But belief and thousands of man hours cannot bring an idea to fruition. For this they have had to raise a considerable amount of money and bring on board expertise from many areas.  

Since they started to focus their efforts on developing Walkodile® five years ago, Elaine and John have invested almost everything they have. They initially raised £120,000, by re-mortgaging the family home, selling insurance policies and personal shares. Family members invested another £60,000. A combination of awards schemes and grants from Scottish Enterprise and Aberdeenshire Council Economic Development Department, a £15,000 prize from Shell’s European Safety Competition as well as various loans have helped them realise their goals.  

An advisory board has helped them with the commercial proposition. They have also been working with designers from De Montfort University; solicitors; Loughborough University; Edinburgh University & Aberdeenshire Council among others to help bring them this far. They have also had considerable support and feedback from schools and nurseries, which has been invaluable. Walkodile® went through an independent ergonomic and safety assessment from the Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute at Loughborough University and it has gone through various tests before going on the market, carried out by STR Laboratories in Reading, which is Europe's largest child product testing lab.  

Walkodile® is now being sold to schools and nurseries throughout the UK and marketing has begun abroad. A Walkodile® is even on its way to Tokyo.  

Elaine has recently been shortlisted for the UK Woman Inventor of the Year awards at the Care Royal in London and is currently out shopping for a posh frock. Good luck Elaine and John!  

Since this article was published in Scotland Parent, Elaine Stephen has won several awards at the British Female Inventors and Innovators ceremony in London including the Inventor/Innovation Diamond award and the Product Development Diamond award both recognising the incredible skills and work that women have provided and as a result contributed to the product, process or service becoming a reality.