How a Quiet Moment on Rathlin Island Became inCharge
In 2020, in the middle of COVID, my family set off for Rathlin Island. Sailing is something we can all do together – it's accessible for our eldest daughter, and we find that on the water, everyone belongs.
Everything was closed at the time, so we brought all our supplies with us and checked with the islanders first to make sure it was okay to come. On the journey across, the sea was calm, the weather was beautiful, and there was that deep stillness you don't get every day.
We arrived late, had a great sleep, and in the morning it was glorious. I said to my husband, "I need to go for a walk." So I set off alone – just me, the sound of the sea, the birds, the animals, the rabbits. It was glorious.
And somewhere along that walk, inCharge was born.
It wasn't just the name. It was the idea. I had been researching personalised care – a different way for my daughter – and I couldn't find any person-centred, family-focused software that wasn't built for systems or big business. I felt this compelling duty to explore that further.
That moment on Rathlin was the start of the long journey that has become inCharge. It hasn't always been easy. As a first-time founder and a non-technical founder, my credibility was often questioned.
But something really powerful happened along the way. Families tell me they trust this work because it comes from my lived experience. They see someone juggling the same realities they have – someone who understands, someone in solidarity with them.
Recently, I met one of our customers, Marian, in person, which was unusual. She said, "What you're doing is incredible. Keep going. You're helping so many families like ours. Whenever you're in doubt about yourself, go back to why you're doing it. You'll always find the strength to continue."
Because this was never about building technology. It was about building something that people really needed in their lives, on their own terms.
We're at the cusp of flourishing. We're getting ready to scale, to reach more families. We're really interested in creating real change.
When I think back to that quiet walk on Rathlin, I'm reminded that the biggest ideas – the most powerful ideas – often come when it's quiet and still. When you finally have the space, you can see what's possible.
And we're delighted that inCharge is showing what's possible.
