Publicity Campaigns

Although bladder and bowels problems are very common, the subject is still not openly discussed. As a result, many people suffer in silence. This is a great pity, because assistance is readily available. In most cases the condition can be cured, or at least managed so that it doesn't get in the way of everyday life.

To get this message across, we organise the National Continence Awareness Week. These campaigns run every September and have three aims: to improve the public's knowledge about continence problems; to publicise the professional help that is available; and to highlight a different aspect of the condition each year.

We also run occasional 'mini campaigns'. These deal with more specialised aspects of bladder and bowel problems, or address a smaller target audience.

For more information, or if you would like to register as a supporter and be kept informed of future developments, see our Awareness Week page.

If you would like to make a donation to support our campaigns to raise awareness, please go to the section on "Funding for the future".

This is a summary of our latest and recent Campaigns:

September 2006

The leaflet we launched for the 2006 campaign gave a broad outline of the more common types of bladder and bowel continence problems. It emphasised that these are very common, and that professional help is widely available.

The leaflet then gave an overview of the latest treatments, medicines, surgical options and management products. It also gave the contact details of our Helpline, which is staffed by continence nurse specialists. As well as being able to offer expert advice, our nurses can send enquirers detailed information about their specific problem.

September 2005

This year we highlighted a problem that affects 1 in 5 women and almost 1 in 5 men - having an ‘overactive bladder’.We also produced posters, two kinds of stickers and balloons to raise awareness of the professional help that is widely available for this very common but little discussed condition. In addition, we re-issued our very popular "Urgent" card for people to show who need to use a toilet in a hurry, and need an easy way of explaining this

September 2004

This year, we took "stress incontinence" as our theme. Stress incontinence has nothing to do with stress in the sense of anxiety. It refers to leakage when the bladder is put under sudden pressure (stress), for example when you laugh, sneeze or lift something heavy. Women of all ages can be affected, but it occurs most often after childbirth or during the menopause.

Unfortunately, many women do not seek a remedy for their condition. Some are too embarrassed, because they think they must be unusual. Others are unaware of the many ways in which their problem can be addressed. The campaign publicised the products, treatment and professional help that are widely available for all women.

September 2003

This year the campaign aimed to raise awareness of male continence problems. We chose this theme because male problems have attracted even less media coverage than female ones, despite the fact that more than a million men in the UK are affected.

To mark Awareness Week, we launched a new leaflet offering general advice about all male continence problems. Called ‘Calling All Men’, the leaflet tackles everything from difficulties caused by the prostate, to accidental leakage (‘after-dribble’) a few moments after leaving the toilet, and bedwetting. The leaflet discusses the causes of these problems and what can be done to treat them. It gives details of the various products that can help manage the condition, and suggests which of the Foundation’s range of factsheets can be requested for further, in-depth information.

September 2002

The subject covered by this Awareness Week was continence problems caused by things other than bladder or bowel problems. These include physical infirmity, which can prevent people from getting to the toilet in time, and conditions which result in confusion, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

We launched a leaflet providing practical advice on how to make private and public toilets easier to use. It also offered useful self-help tips, for example replacing awkward buttons or zips with Velcro fastenings.

September 2001

This National Continence Awareness Week took the psychological effects of incontinence as its subject. We released a self-help leaflet called Helping You to Help Yourself, which advised about how to cope with the emotional effects of imperfect bladder or bowel control. The leaflet offered a number of tips about how to maintain - or regain - the self-esteem and confidence that can be lost when bladder or bowel control is impaired. It also suggested how the condition can be explained to friends and relatives in an unembarrassing way.

June 2001

In a new departure, we opted for a regional mini-campaign. Using the 'Adult Bedwetting' booklet launched in 2000, we concentrated our efforts on the Greater Manchester area. Media activities included adverts on local radio and in the Manchester Evening News.

September 2000

The theme of 2000's National Continence Awareness Week was 'Pregnancy, Birth and Continence'. We launched a leaflet called 'Expecting a Baby?' which explained the bladder and bowel problems that can arise from childbirth. It also emphasised the importance of pelvic floor exercises as part of every woman's pre- and post-natal regime and advised about the help that is available if something goes wrong.

April 2000

For our second mini-campaign of the year we launched a new version of our 'Adult Bedwetting' booklet, aimed at the one in every hundred adult who has this condition. The booklet covered subjects such as the causes of bedwetting and the help that is available. It also provided tips on practical management of the condition.

January 2000

Recent years have seen the growth of so-called pre-retirement courses, which offer a range of practical and psychological advice for people about to retire. For this mini-campaign we produced an A4 insert about bladder and bowel problems. This was supplied to retirement consultancies for them to include in the packs they give their delegates.

September 1999

We launched a Code suggesting simple ways for employers to create a 'bladder and bowel-friendly' workplace. The Code asked companies to let their staff use the toilet whenever they need, to provide self-help literature in washrooms and noticeboards and to treat employees with continence problems with the same dignity and sympathy as they would do any other illness or disability.

How the Campaigns are run - and how you can help

The Foundation takes responsibility for generating national media coverage of Awareness Week, but we also work in partnership with NHS Continence Advisory Services and other organisations to create local media interest. To achieve this, we send a free Campaign Pack to every Continence Advisory Service in the UK, as well as to any individual or organisation that registers with us.

Typically, the Pack includes a draft press release which can be customised for local use and a guide offering advice on how to deal with journalists, organise local events and so forth. The Pack also contains supplies of any materials being launched as part of the campaign. Usually these will comprise a new leaflet relevant to the Awareness Week's theme and promotional posters and toilet stickers featuring our Helpline number.

Ideally, supporters of the campaign use this literature to stimulate press coverage in their own area, but anything that increases the chances of someone seeing that help is available is a positive contribution to our effort, from a poster stuck in a pharmacy window to a leaflet display in a library or GP's surgery.

Please contact us if you would like to register for a Campaign Pack, or if you have any questions about the National Continence Awareness Week.