Activities

Advice and Information

The Continence Foundation Helpline provides advice and assistance by telephone, letter and e-mail to over 10,000 people a year.

We produce publications for the public and professionals: first line information in the form of attractive leaflets, more detailed factsheets, a directory of all the continence products on the UK market, the national index of local continence services (available on this website), promotional material for continence advisors and professional resource material, Newsletters and a Review of recent publications.   We also produce information in ethnic minority languages.  We stock a range of leaflets and small booklets produced by other organisations and also a number of books about aspects of incontinence – suitable for the public or professionals.

We have a 20-minute video providing an introduction to continence problems, which is available to purchase or to members of the public on free loan through the Helpline.

We also maintain this large website.

• e-mail the Helpline for advice...
• view a list of our publications...
• enquiries about other services...

Public Awareness and Media Coverage

We constantly promote media coverage to encourage open discussion of the condition and persuade more people to seek the professional help that can significantly improve their quality of life.

We take the lead in organising the annual National Continence Awareness Campaigns to improve public knowledge about incontinence and how to remedy it.

Details of recent and current awareness campaigns...

Education and Research

We receive many enquiries from students studying for NVQ courses or EMB978.  We provide them with basic information and point them in the right direction for finding out more.  We also have discussions with people doing research projects: we are particularly concerned to ensure that quality of life is given sufficient weighting when judging the effectiveness of treatments and products.

Policy Campaigns

Action on a political level is an important part of our work: we press for higher priority for continence services and for improved policies and organisation.  Our campaign about inadequate NHS services was a major factor in the decision by Ministers to set up the review which resulted in the guidance, Good Practice in Continence Services (March 2000).  Our attention is now also focussed on assisting Primary Care Trusts will their new responsibilities for continence services.

We are in touch with a number of MPs who take up individual cases, suggest Parliamentary Questions, correspond with Ministers and submit evidence to Parliament.

Details of our policy work...

Co-operation with Other Organisations

We are part of an informal network of voluntary and professional organisations concerned with incontinence.  They include the Association for Continence Advice, the Royal College of Nursing Continence Care Forum, PromoCon, the UK Continence Society, the Continence Products Evaluation Network, Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC), Incontact (the consumer group), and others.  We also work with other charities which have interests in common with our own, such as other members of the Long-Term Medical Conditions Alliance, and the Neurological Alliance.

We also liaise with foreign and international groups.

Detail of other organisations...