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Impact report 2025-2026
This year marks 35 years of ERIC, as we continue to be a lifeline for families who often feel isolated and unsure where to turn, supporting families struggling with bowel and bladder conditions, ensuring that no child has to suffer in silence.
The report highlights the impact ERIC has, on families and the professionals who support them.
Fletcher's story
Your help means we can keep making a difference when it matters the most for children like Fletcher.
Fletcher was just six months old when his mum, Hannah, first noticed something wasn't right with his toileting.
Over the years, Fletcher has lost out on countless childhood experiences due to constipation that left him severely impacted. The build up and blockage of poo eventually stretched his bowel and he was left unable to control his bowel movements.
Hannah says: “At nursery, he withdrew from activities and other children, cowering in the corner. Then he stopped walking because he was in so much pain.”
Hannah found advice, resources and stories of other families who were struggling as she was on the ERIC website.
I soon realised we weren't alone and found a way forward.”
Watch the story of Fletcher, one of the many children helped by ERIC, in our video below.
In numbers
The impact data for our Helpline (8,973 families supported during 2025-26) from feedback forms over the past year showed...
- 94% said ERIC understood their needs well
- 94% said their experience was excellent or good
- 75% said ERIC helped them develop a plan for tackling the problem
- 74% said they felt more supported
- 84% said they would recommend the Helpline
For the webinars (2,177 parents/carers supported during 2025-26)
This year we’ve trained 3,501 healthcare professionals and 3,282 early years practitioners.
Here’s what early years practitioners said about ERIC:
- 91% of people said the training has altered their views on potty training
- 97% said they feel more confident talking to parents and carers about potty training
- 96% said they feel more confident in supporting children with potty training
- 95% said it’s important for early years professionals to guide families through the potty training process with a further 5% saying it was reasonably important
- 100% said it is important to establish good bladder and bowel health before potty training
We are registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our most recent annual accounts and Trustees' report dated March 2024 is available to download here. Annual accounts from the last five years can be viewed on the Charity Commission website.
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Our project highlights
Join our online challenge to help you prepare your child to use the toilet at school, with expert advice from ERIC.
An evidence based approach to potty training, aimed at reducing the number of children starting school in nappies.
A co-production insights and engagement project on bowel and bladder health and the challenges young people face.
The difference we make
Katie's story
Katie was in pain from constipation most of her life, and spent lots of her childhood in hospital. Aged 8, colostomy surgery turned her life around. ERIC was a lifeline to support us throughout the journey. To give back, Katie joined with TV star Mollie Pearce in our Summer Apppeal to raise awareness of ERIC.
Ivan's story
Ivan spent much of his toddler years thrashing in pain, unable to sleep, and with a swollen stomach, and doctors had no idea why. Here, his mum Elissa shares their experiences of severe constipation and how getting in touch with ERIC helped them seek the treatment Ivan needed.
Eva's story
Eva suffered a spinal cord injury when she was 10 years old, leaving her unable to walk or control her bowel and bladder. Life turned upside down for the family – but ERIC helped them to manage and feel less alone. Eva shared her story on Radio 4 alongside TV star Mollie Pearce, who also has a stoma.