A raft of new resources is to be unveiled at a 30th anniversary event for the UK’s leading continence charity, ERIC: The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity.
The celebratory event marks ERIC’s 30 years of positively impacting children’s lives and will be held at The Foundation in Bristol on May 1.
It will showcase the charity’s recent achievements and launch a number of new and exciting resources.
Recent research carried out by the University of Bristol found that a common belief among teachers is that children grow out of continence conditions.
To debunk this myth ERIC and University of Bristol joined forces to co-produce with secondary schools a new online resource for teachers and other educational services professionals. The results of this exciting collaboration will be launched at the May 1 event.
The aim is to raise national awareness of continence problems in young people, to increase teachers’ understanding of their support needs, and to provide an improved quality of life for those young people.
The screening of a new film entitled Life is Life – shot by a beneficiary of ERIC, will be shown at the launch. This sensitively made film takes a look at many of the real-life cases that have been affected by continence issues, where young people and families talk candidly about their experiences.
The event also serves as a platform to promote ERIC’s dedicated helpline, which is now available to use for free.
Juliette Randall, ERIC’s CEO, said: “Reaching our 30th year is a huge milestone and we are proud of how ERIC has evolved over that time to provide relevant information and support that has impacted positively on families, children and professionals. The event on 1 May is hugely important as it highlights the breadth of our work and our drive to work with our communities, never standing still, until we have achieved our vision that every child and teenager with a bowel or bladder condition can access support and live free from embarrassment, shame, isolation and fear.”
Another exciting addition to ERIC’s resources is a new short digital animation which educates about bedwetting. This will be shown at the event, and attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the charity and its work with young people and their families and take information home with them.
With an estimated 900,000 five-19 year olds suffering from bowel and bladder conditions, Bristol-based ERIC is the leading continence charity in the UK, offering parents, young people, and health and education experts advice and support.
Over its 30 years ERIC has supported thousands of families, health and education professionals, and childminders, nursery nurses and GPS, thanks to its dedicated helpline, training, and advice.
It’s estimated that only 11% of those affected by bladder and bowel conditions ask for help. In England alone, there are 15,000 hospital admissions for paediatric cases of chronic constipation and urinary tract infections (UTIs) each year. 80% of these could be avoided if families had access to the right information and resources. ERIC is working hard to raise awareness of the issue and make its support more widely available to those seeking it.
The 30th anniversary event is taking place on Wednesday, May 1, from 2-4pm at The Foundation, (Triodos Bank), Lower Ground Floor, St George’s Road, Bristol.
