Kate Shelbourne - Helpline Advisor & Trust Fundraiser

Kate Shelbourne

I joined ERIC as a Helpline Advisor in December 2018 and the Trust & Foundation Fundraising Team in April 2019, roughly 10 years after being diagnosed with a bowel disease.

It’s almost impossible to appreciate how hard bowel and bladder problems can be until you have them, and I love supporting families through the Helpline one day and then fundraising for the Helpline the next.

Latest

Step 1 - Preparing for potty training

Spending time preparing your child in advance of taking their nappy away is the best way to help them move on to the next step. We explain why and how in this first step...
ERIC Conference workshops announced

Read more about the expert-led workshops taking place at our hybrid conference in October.
Step 2 - Potty training practice

Teaching your child how to use a potty and feel comfortable around wee and poo is a great way to introduce the next step. You can help them to learn these new skills through play.
Step 3 - Perfecting potty training skills

You're ready to stop using nappies once and for all! Find out how to manage accidents, outings and naptimes plus how to motivate and reward your child.

Resources about children's bowel & bladder problems

Factsheets, charts & templates to help you manage potty training and bowel & bladder problems.
A Parent's Guide to Disimpaction

If your child has been constipated for more than a few days your doctor or nurse may recommend a disimpaction regime. This means giving laxatives in sufficiently large quantities to ‘clear out’ all the accumulated poo.
Bowel problems: FAQs

How often should children poo? Why is my child soiling? Get answers to commonly asked questions about children's poo problems.
Potty training tips

Make sure your child is having plenty to drink throughout the day and check out their poo. Constipation makes potty training really tricky!
Children who will only poo in a nappy and other toilet avoiders

Insisting on wearing a nappy to poo is normal for kids who are potty training, but some would happily poo in a nappy for years. Break the habit with these tips.
How fast are your bowels? Take the sweetcorn test to find out!

A portion of sweetcorn and a clock is all you need to discover how long it takes for food to travel from your mouth to the toilet.
Treating bedwetting

Discover how to treat and manage this common childhood condition.
Advice for children with constipation

How to spot the signs of constipation in children and how it should be treated and managed.
Parents and carers
What causes bedwetting?

There are three main reasons why children and young people struggle with bedwetting. Find out more about the underlying causes.

ERIC Conference 2022 booking is open

Our conference for health and education professionals will take place on 10th October 2022 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Live streaming also available. Read more

Volunteer Coordinator

A brand new role, vital in helping us to develop and expand ERIC's Family Services. Key to our success will be building ERIC's volunteer programme, so that all volunteers feel welcome, valued and able to make a difference. Read more

Family Support & Helpline Advisor - two vacancies

Thanks to support from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, we are recruiting for two Family Support and Helpline Advisors. Read more