A charity encouraging young people to realise their potential has celebrated its smartphone app going live.

For the last four years, Respect Yourself, based in Hethersett, has texted subscribers positive daily messages covering health, positive thinking, education and work, relationships and self-confidence.

But in an effort to save costs and up flexibility, the free app was designed and is now ready to download.

It will contain the daily messages, as well as an archive of previous posts and blogs from the charity and health care professionals.

Claire Burke, founder, came up with the idea for Respect Yourself after texting her half-brother some words of wisdom.

She said: 'He is 20 years younger than me and had been told that he did not need road tax to ride his new motorbike and to just tell police he didn't realise if he got caught.

'I was obviously so worried but didn't want to ambush him, so instead I decided to text him the consequences if he was caught.

'Straight away he said, 'fine, I won't ride it' and it was then I thought 'there's something in this'.'

After two years of research, Respect Yourself was born in September 2011 as a service sharing peals of wisdom with those aged 13 to 25.

The charity does not offer advice or liaise with organisations, instead acting as a signposting and information service.

Mrs Burke said: 'We have had some really positive feedback so far from parents and the users. We've had people text us back to say they had been able to help someone else after reading one of the messages or that it helped them.'

The app, which benefitted from £7,500 in lottery funding, will replace the text service on January 31 next year and is available to download from the App Store for iPhones and the Google Play Store for Android.

Just search 'Respect Yourself'.

For more information visit www.respectyourself.org.ukDo you know someone launching a charity we should be writing about? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk