Incontact is the UK organisation of people affected by bladder and bowel problems. We believe that people who live with these conditions are the experts on what they need, and also that cooperation between consumers and service providers is the way forward. Incontact's management committee is made up of 9 people with continence problems, one informal carer and one health professional. Through this diversity we are able to face the real issues that affect us all in the field of continence care.

Incontacts main areas are support and information. The website (www.incontact.org) is developing slowly, with more and more consumer-friendly information, features, and visitors' comments. You can also download a copy of our ever-popular information booklet, 'Bladder and Bowel Problems'. Plans for the forthcoming year include making the website more accessible, developing a wider range of user-friendly information, and developing formats other than plain old leaflets.

On the support side, Incontact is moving ahead with a programme of local initiatives to provide informal self-help and support. We will shortly be employing a project worker who will offer training and support for local volunteers. There is no set formula for local support - it may be a phone line, group meetings, or an e-mail list. We believe that different people have different needs, and it is important to have a range of options to choose from.

On a broader scale, public awareness - and even the awareness of health professionals - still needs to be increased. Slowly but surely, Incontact is getting the message across that the consumer's voice needs to be listened to, that these conditions can be helped, and that people living with continence problems don't have to suffer in silence. "You are not alone" is the message we have been using for three years, and it will remain the focus of our activities.

Jolyon Rose, Education Officer