More people feel able to visit
Families and individuals who might stay away can plan a visit, knowing what to expect.
For businesses and organisations
Welcome everyone, before they arrive
Make short video social stories that show people what happens at your place. Put a QR code in your window, and let visitors prepare in their own time.
£99 a year, billed annually, with unlimited social story videos.
Why it matters
For many autistic and anxious people, not knowing what will happen is the hardest part of going somewhere new. Some stay away altogether. A social story lets them see it first.
Calmer arrivals
Visitors who have seen your place already know where to go, who they’ll meet and what they’ll hear.
Show you’re welcoming
A QR code in your window tells everyone that you’ve thought about visitors who find new places hard.
Fewer repeated questions
Answer “what happens when we get there?” once, clearly, for everyone, in your own words.
Works around the clock
Your stories are there whenever people look: the week before, the night before, or outside your door.
Quick to make
A phone, a few minutes of filming and a few sentences. No editing skills or equipment needed.
How it works
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1
Create your account
Sign up and add your place’s name, address and what kind of place it is. This becomes your profile page.
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2
Film your place on your phone
Hold your phone upright and film a visit from the entrance onwards, for one to three minutes. No editing needed.
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3
Add the steps in words
Write what happens in short sentences, plus anything good to know, like loud moments or a quiet space.
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4
Publish and print your QR code
Publish the story and print its A4 poster for your window or door. Share the link on your website too.
Everything you need
- Unlimited social story videos. Make a story for every part of a visit.
- Videos that play well on every phone. We prepare each upload automatically, for fast and slow connections.
- QR codes and A4 posters. One for each story, and one for your whole profile. Print them or download the QR code.
- Your own profile page. Lists all your stories and appears when people search for your place, town or kind of place.
- Steps and sensory notes. Prompts help you write clear steps and the things people need to know.
- Easy to keep up to date. Edit the words any time. A new video goes live only once it’s ready.
- See what’s working. Views over the last 30 days, and how many came from your QR code.
- Manage it from your phone. Film, upload and publish without a computer.
Story ideas for your place
Cafés and restaurants
Your first visit · Ordering at the counter · Where to sit when it’s busy
Places of worship
Coming to a Sunday service · What happens at a christening · Where children can go
Schools and nurseries
My first day · Lunchtime in the hall · Sports day · Going on a school trip
Health and care
Visiting the dentist · Arriving at the surgery · Having a blood test
Venues and attractions
Watching a show · What happens in the interval · Finding the quiet room
Leisure and services
Going swimming · Getting a haircut · Visiting the library
Tips for a good story
- Hold your phone upright. Stories play full-screen, like a phone story.
- Start outside the entrance and film the route a visitor takes, in order.
- Move slowly and keep the phone steady. One to three minutes is plenty.
- Write the steps as the visitor: “When I arrive, I will…”. One short sentence per step.
- Mention what might change: “Sometimes it is busy. That is OK.”
- Say what someone can do if they need a break, and where they can go.
One simple price
£99 a year, billed annually. Unlimited social story videos. Free for your visitors.
Questions from organisations
How much does Knowing Before Going cost?
£99 a year for each organisation, billed annually. There is no limit on the number of social story videos you upload. Visitors never pay.
Is there a limit on videos or stories?
No. Your yearly fee covers unlimited social story videos, so you can make a story for every part of a visit and update them whenever things change.
How do we sign up and pay?
Create an account in the app, then pay by card through Stripe, a secure payment provider. It takes a few minutes and there is nothing to sign or post. You can start writing drafts straight away, and uploading videos and publishing open up as soon as you have paid.
Can we cancel?
Yes, at any time from your account, without needing to contact anyone. Your stories stay live until the end of the year you have paid for. After that they are hidden but kept, and if you subscribe again they come back with the same links and QR codes.
Do we get invoices and receipts?
Yes. You get a receipt by email after each payment, and you can download every invoice from the billing page in your account. You can add your VAT number when you pay, and it will appear on your invoices.
What do we need to make a story?
Just a phone. Hold it upright and film a visit from the entrance onwards, for one to three minutes. Then add the steps in short sentences, and anything people should know, such as loud moments or a quiet space. We prepare the video so it plays smoothly on every phone.
How will visitors find our stories?
Every story has its own QR code and a printable A4 poster for your window or door. Your organisation also gets a profile page that lists all your stories and appears in search. You can share the links on your website, in emails and on social media.
Can we change a story later?
Yes. You can edit the words at any time and upload a new video whenever you like. Your current video stays live until the new one is ready.
Can we see how many people watch?
Yes. Your dashboard shows how many times each story was viewed in the last 30 days, and how many of those views came from your QR code.
What kinds of places use Knowing Before Going?
Any place people visit: cafés and restaurants, churches and other places of worship, schools and nurseries, GP surgeries, dentists and clinics, museums, libraries, theatres, cinemas, leisure centres, shops, hairdressers and events.
Make your first story this week
All you need is a phone and a few minutes.