On Friday 25th July 2025, the project team returned to Bristol to film their ‘Bladder Health History’ series.
Recent research has shown that 1 in 9 children in the UK live with a bowel or bladder condition but are embarrassed to talk about it. A quarter of those aged 11 to 19 feel scared to use school toilets and over a third avoid drinking water at all, so that they do not need to go to the toilet at school. The stigma associated with conditions like urine incontinence, but also bladder health more generally, means that many young people and their families do not feel able to talk about this or seek help.
Over the last few months, the project team has been working with in collaboration with ERIC The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity and Punchline Media to develop three short films targeted at young people aged 11-14. Through providing historical perspectives on bladder conditions, such as urine incontinence, and their treatment, these films aim to challenge current taboos surrounding bladder health.
Each film presents a different ‘story’, featuring two main characters (a confident, old-school presenter and a smart, caring young person) who interact with each other and various supporting characters in different scenarios. Their discussions have been scripted to combine past and present insights and to convey several key messages: that bladder conditions can affect people of all ages; that the causes can differ in different people; and that it is important to seek medical treatment and support to help manage these conditions.
Through presenting historical insights on bladder conditions and their treatment, it is hoped that these films will help to challenge current taboos and facilitate more open conversations, and in the process, to empower young people living with conditions like urine incontinence.
The final products will be published later this year.
Watch this space!