ERIC Conference 2026

12 October 2026, The Grand Hotel, Bristol

The ERIC Conference is designed for healthcare professionals to share the latest research and practical guidance, as well as updating their professional skills.

The event includes a broad programme of talks from leading practitioners and cutting-edge research, interactive workshops and practical demonstrations, and an opportunity to access the industry’s latest equipment and expertise in our exhibition.

Theme

The theme for 2026 is Together for 35 years: leading change in paediatric bowel and bladder health. This year marks the 35th anniversary of ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity, so we’ll be celebrating the changemakers in our sector and looking at innovations which are influencing the face of patient care. Throughout the day we’ll be looking at the latest research and techniques in the field as we work towards healthier bowels and bladders for all children and young people.

Conference objectives

Bring the latest research to the forefront of practice
Highlight the impact of bladder & bowel problems on children of all ages and needs
Demonstrate the impact of new approaches and services
Opportunities for networking and sharing practice

Book now

Tickets cost £95 per person when paying online. If you want to pay by invoice this can be done but please note that payment by this method will cost £110 per person and we must have the purchase order document at the time of booking. Please email [email protected] if you require further information regarding invoice payments.

Please see below for our cancellation and refund policy.

Who can attend?

The Conference is suitable for a wide range of healthcare professionals including children's continence specialists, paediatricians, those specialising in urology, school nurses, community nurses, health visitors as well as allied healthcare professionals including occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Anyone working in the field of paediatric continence is welcome!

How does it work?

The event will begin at 8.30am with a breakfast symposium, followed by our main programme from 9.30 am. The morning will be packed with speakers on the main stage highlighting the latest research and developments. There will be intervals to explore our exclusive exhibition, where delegates can access the industry’s latest equipment and expertise. A light lunch is provided.

In the afternoon there will be two workshop sessions, with delegates able to choose from eight possible workshops.

The day ends with presentations by the authors of the winning posters submitted, and a closing address from ERIC’s CEO Sian Wicks.

Attending the Conference will contribute to CPD for healthcare professionals and an official certificate of attendance is provided.

Programme

08.00 - 09.30: Registration and Exhibition

8.30 – 9.15am Breakfast Symposium- optional Sponsored by Clinisupplies

New step on ERIC’s poo ladder, the place for mid volume irrigation.

This interactive session brings ERIC’s Poo Ladder to life, guiding you through a structured approach to bowel management. Learn how to assess needs, apply each stage effectively, and explore where transanal irrigation fits within treatment pathways- from low through medium to high volume.

Designed to boost your confidence in managing constipation and complex bowel conditions.

9.30 – 9.45 – Welcome Address- Anne Wright president, ERIC's President

9.45 – 10.05 - Our Vision that ‘Together for 35 years: leading change in paediatric bladder and bowel health’ - Sian Wicks, ERIC's CEO

10.05 – 10.30 – What has changed in Health Visiting- Together in Hope, Together in Action - Alison Morton iHV CEO

10.30 – 10.55 - Biopsychosocial factors and paediatric incontinence: advances in understanding and implications for treatment- Carol Joinson, Professor of Developmental Psychology

Join Carol Joinson and discover there is now robust evidence that continence problems in children and young people are caused by a complex interrelationship of biopsychosocial factors. New developments in understanding the relationship between adversity, mental health problems, and incontinence have implications for treatment. This talk will provide an overview of recent findings and discuss future directions for research aimed at advancing understanding of the causes of paediatric incontinence.

10.55 – 11.20 – Ketamine Bladder: Managing a Challenging Condition- Mo Belal, Consultant Urologist

Ketamine-associated uropathy is an increasingly common and often under-recognised cause of severe lower urinary tract symptoms in young people, with significant pain, urgency, frequency and potential upper tract risk. This talk will provide a practical overview of presentation, assessment, investigations and treatment of ketamine bladder. The aim is to equip paediatric continence teams with clear red flags and a structured approach to diagnosis and management

11.20 – 11.45 - Break and Exhibition

11.45 – 12.05 - Using lab models of the bladder to uncover the mysteries of urinary tract infections - Prof Jennifer Rohn,

On the face of it, urinary tract infections seem very straightforward, which is why their frequent treatment failure is surprising. In this talk, we will explore the many ways that UTI bacteria have of getting around antibiotics and our immune systems, and how their behaviour also thwarts diagnosis. Using novel methods to model the human bladder lining in the lab. we are learning more about how these fascinating microbes tick, and, in an age of increasing antibiotic resistance, how we might design new therapeutic strategies in the future.

12.05 – 13.05 – Research Presentations (10 min sessions x 6)

Mark Miodownik Big toilet project

Dr Catherine Wilkinson IBD, School and Me: How Real Stories Shaped a Children’s Book

Alina Lynden Parents’ Experiences of Supporting Children Through Toilet Training in the UK: A Qualitative Study.

Bill Newman update for the MRC-NIHR Node on Rare Early Onset Lower Urinary Tract Disorders (REOLUT)

Dr Claire L. Jones Modern Histories of Childhood Incontinence and Their Uses Today

13.05 – 14.00 – Lunch and Exhibition

14.00 – 14.50 – Workshops - Session 1 (see below)

14.50 – 15.10 – Break and Exhibtion

15.10 – 16.00 – Workshops - Session 2 (see below)

16.00 – 16.20 – Poster presentations – Sian Wicks

16.20 – 16.30 – Closing Address – Anne Wright

ERIC reserves the right to make changes to the conference programme and speakers without prior notice. All information contained on our website is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.

Workshops

Workshop 1

Choose from 1 of these 4 options

Workshop 1 - Motivation for Change

Dr Cleo Williamson - Clinical Psychologist specialising in children and young people.

Supporting children with toileting difficulties can be emotionally and physically exhausting for everyone involved. When progress feels slow or setbacks continue, children and families often experience fatigue, frustration and a sense of hopelessness. Over time, this can reduce engagement with the very support designed to help.

Delivered by a Paediatric Clinical Psychologist, this training explores how to rebuild hope, strengthen motivation and create meaningful, achievable steps towards change. Grounded in compassion and evidence based psychological principles, it will help professionals understand the emotional barriers that sit beneath resistance, reframe challenges, and work collaboratively with families to reignite confidence and momentum.

Workshop 2 - Managing Bladder and Bowel Needs in Educational Settings

Davina Richardson - Specialist Children's Nurse, Bladder & Bowel UK & Co-chair of Paediatric Continence Forum

Many healthcare professionals and families report that their children who have bladder and/or bowel health issues face difficulties in managing toileting and associated needs in educational settings.

This workshop will consider the perspectives of the learner, their family, healthcare professionals and education staff to provide a wide understanding of the challenges and needs involved.

Delegates will be offered information on the relevant legislation and guidance to promote inclusive practice within nurseries and school settings. The session will offer practical strategies to overcome barriers to access, promote dignity and support children not fully participate in education.

Workshop 3 - What can the paediatric continence workforce expect from Occupational Therapy, and how to make an effective referral

Moffat Mokomo - Paediatric Occupational Therapist

This session will explore the role of Occupational Therapy (OT) in supporting children and young people with bladder and bowel difficulties, particularly where sensory processing, emotional regulation, and functional skills impact continence. It will outline how OTs complement the work of the paediatric continence workforce, offering practical insights into assessment, intervention, and collaborative working.

Attendees will gain clarity on when to refer to OT, what information to include in a high-quality referral, and how joint working can improve outcomes for children and families.

Workshop 4- FGM and Incontinence

Nikki Cottrell details to follow

Workshop 2

Choose 1 of the 4 options

Workshop 1 - Motivation for Change

Dr Cleo Williamson - Clinical Psychologist specialising in children and young people.

Workshop 2 - Managing Bladder and Bowel Needs in Educational Settings

Davina Richardson - Specialist Children's Nurse, Bladder & Bowel UK & Co-chair of Paediatric Continence Forum

Many healthcare professionals and families report that their children who have bladder and/or bowel health issues face difficulties in managing toileting and associated needs in educational settings.

This workshop will consider the perspectives of the learner, their family, healthcare professionals and education staff to provide a wide understanding of the challenges and needs involved.

Workshop 3 - Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: Optimising Activation, Preventing Compensations, and Facilitating Progression.

Louise O’Reilly - Chartered Physiotherapist.

This practical session focuses on the assessment, activation, and progression of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training. Participants will develop skills in identifying correct pelvic floor muscle contractions, recognising and preventing common compensatory strategies, and implementing appropriate exercise progressions based on patient ability and clinical presentation.

Through demonstration and peer practice, we will explore verbal cueing, observation, and clinical reasoning to optimise pelvic floor activation. You will practice modifying exercise positions and load; to safely progress pelvic floor training from low-load activation in supported positions to more functional and task-specific exercises relevant to daily activities. Biofeedback as a supportive adjunct will also be explored at the end of the session, highlighting how it can assist with improving patient awareness, facilitating correct muscle activation, and supporting motor learning during pelvic floor muscle training.

Workshop 4 - Filling the gaps: Providing a “Constipation Curriculum” for parents of children with chronic constipation.

Dr Tabitha Ashley-Norman & Dr Sadia Zaman

Caring for a child with chronic constipation can be a complex journey for parents and caregivers, with many people feeling powerless in their ability to support their child. A key part of achieving healthy bowels is equipping caregivers with the knowledge necessary to navigate treatment pathways and promote prevention. In this workshop, two resident doctors will present a “Constipation Curriculum”, which they recently published in the Clinical Paediatrics. Delegates will learn which areas in the complex field of constipation education are most valued by caregivers and healthcare professionals. They highlight the voices of parents who were interviewed as part of the research, encouraging delegates to reflect on these experiences and discuss how we can further support parents in the future.

We will endeavour to allocate delegates to their choice of workshops but, as the numbers in each room are limited, it will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.

Become an exhibitor or sponsor

We have opportunities for carefully selected partner organisations to get involved by sponsoring or exhibiting at the Conference.

The ERIC Conference is a rare opportunity to capture the attention of healthcare professionals in a lively and stimulating environment. ERIC is a trusted organisation for professionals and, by exhibiting with us, you’re benefitting from our great relationships and reputation across children’s health.

If you’re interested in sponsorship or exhibiting, contact [email protected] or click the button below to register online.

Download the brochure

Poster presentations

Got some ideas, research or project progress to share?

We’re seeking abstracts and poster presentations from professionals in the field. Those selected will be displayed on notice boards at the Conference and some will have the opportunity to present their findings at the event.

How to get involved

Choose a project! This may be some work you have been doing, or a new idea you want to work on in the next few months. N.B. It must be new! It could be research, audit, case studies or a literature review. Click the button below for more detail on how to submit an abstract.

Submit a poster presentation

Cancellation and refund policy

Notice of cancellation must be made in writing. Cancellations received by 31st August 2026 will receive a 75% refund. Unfortunately, no refunds can be made after this date and if payment has not been received delegates will still be liable for payment of the full fee. Substitute delegates will be welcome up to 2 weeks prior to the event but we must be notified of this in writing.

Essential details

When

Date: 12th October 2026

Time: 8.30 - 16.30

Parking

Car parking is located in the multi-storey just on the left-hand side of the hotel, on Newmarket Avenue BS1 2EL.

It is available to access 24 hours a day, and the charge is £19.00 for overnight parking or £10.00 for delegates attending the conference just during the day.

The car park is operated by Parking Eye, so the vehicle’s registration details must be registered at reception on arrival.

There are 150 spaces and the hotel find there is usually enough spaces for everyone.

If the car park is full when you arrive, there are NCP car parks a couple of minutes from the hotel, in Nelson Street, Rupert Street and Baldwin Street.

Accommodation

Transport

TRAIN – From nearest station, Bristol Temple Meads – 0.9 miles walking, 1.2 miles driving.

BUS – From Bristol Bus and Coach Station – 0.3 miles walking.

CAR - From M4/M5: Exit at M32 towards Bristol city centre. Follow signs to Old City and Broad Street. Parking available in adjacent multi-storey car park (£19 per 24 hours).

AIR - From Bristol International Airport – 11 miles by taxi to hotel or airport coach the A1 (Bristol Airport Flyer) to city centre (Stop C2C1) that runs 24 hrs around every 8 minutes.

Book here

Venue

The Bristol Grand Hotel by Sunday

Outside of The Bristol Grand Hotel

The hotel is located on Broad Street in Bristol’s historic Old City. It is easily accessible by public transport but also offers carparking adjacent to the hotel (entrance on left of picture) and other nearby carparks.

Contact us

All enquiries about the ERIC Paediatric Continence Care Conference 2026 should be directed to the ERIC training team, email: [email protected]

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