Let's talk about incontinence
3-6 million people in the UK experience urinary incontinence, the unintentional loss of urine.
Incontinence isn’t something that should be swept under the rug. While society has often seen it as a women's issue, it's about time we start a nationwide conversation to break the silence around male incontinence.
Here are the facts: 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer, and some experience bladder and bowel problems as a side effect of their treatment.
There's more: In the UK, about 1 in 3 men over 65 will experience urinary incontinence issues, while 1 in 20 men aged 60 and over will experience bowel incontinence.
Here's the kicker: Many of these men have nowhere convenient or discreet to dispose of their sanitary waste. That's simply not good enough.
Our goal: To make male sanitary bins available in men's toilets all across the UK. This way, men can dispose of their sanitary waste easily, safely, and with the dignity they deserve.
Getting MP's attention
We teamed up with a range of organisations to launch the Boys need Bins campaign. As part of this campaign our amazing supporters sent letters to their MPs to tell them about the scale of the issue facing men with incontinence.
Thanks to your dedication, over 2,200 letters were sent, reaching 95% of MPs in the UK. MPs are now supporting us in recognising that men can experience incontinence and need their own bins in toilets to get rid of their sanitary waste. to tackle the taboo.
In September we hosted our first ever Westminster event, where we spoke to MPs and key decision-makers. During the event, we launched our report, "Lifting the Lid on Male Incontinence". Our report talks about how hard it is for men with incontinence to dispose of their sanitary waste, and the impact this has on their lives. We also surveyed workplaces to find out what’s preventing them from taking action to support these men.
You can support the campaign today by visiting our resources hub to find template letters to MPs, Councils and businesses, as well as our Boys need Bins logo.
The campaign is creating waves nationally. The report has sparked discussions and raised questions within the Government, businesses and councils in all four nations. We’re pushing for change and urging all to recognise the needs of men with incontinence.
Driving local change
Alongside our partners phs Group, we want men living with incontinence to feel confident and supported, whether they are in their workplace or out and about socialising with family and friends.
That’s why, together we have created BOG STANDARD, a set of guidelines designed to educate and ensure businesses and the public sector are providing men with the facilities they need to dispose of incontinence waste with dignity. Head to the website to watch our campaign film or download the campaign Toolkit, which includes lots of resources about how your business can show your support for men living with incontinence.
phs Group have also created a map, that shows every male incontinence bin that they have provided to businesses across the UK, and where men can access the basic hygiene facilities that they need.
But this is NOT the time to slow down
You can keep up the momentum by:
1. Sharing our report with your MP and let them know what they can do next.
2. Sharing our letter with your local councillor asking them to be part of the first wave of councils drafting motions to put bins into men’s toilets.
And we’ll continue to put pressure on the government for changes that are long overdue.
Together, we're sparking conversation
Male incontinence has caught the attention of the media. Brave men are sharing their experiences of incontinence. Their stories are being seen by millions across the country.
The Boys need Bins campaign has had coverage all over the country including national television shows like Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch and BBC’s Morning Live (time stamp 25:30).
Here's a sample of some of the coverage.
Big wins so far
Let's talk about some of the incredible things we've accomplished with your fantastic help and support:
1. Jersey steps up: Jersey got onboard and passed a law that means that there are bins in public loos all over the island. Shout-out to local resident Andy Jones, who made it happen with Deputy Raluca Kovacs, after hearing a Radio 5 live interview with one of our supporters talking about his experiences of being incontinent.
2. Council trailblazers: Winchester Council kicked things off by being one of the first in the UK to put bins in their male toilets. And guess what? Worthing followed suit, with Hull, Milton Keynes, Wyre and Bath & North East Somerset are getting ready to do the same.
3. Shopping Centres: Basingstoke Festival Place shopping centre joined in by adding bins in their male loos.
4. Going global: In June, we teamed up with the World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems for a webinar that went worldwide. We heard from two of our supporters, Jonathan Hall and Jeff Thomson, talking openly about their experiences of being incontinent, plus Deputy Saviour Raluca Kovacs from Jersey.
This is all thanks to your incredible support, and we're just getting started.
How to deal with incontinence
Our corporate partners
Boys need Bins Campaign
