The Bog Standard campaign is organised by ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence). ERIC is a national charity which provides information and support on childhood bedwetting, daytime wetting, soiling and constipation to families and health professionals. Registered charity no. 1002424.

ERIC is also behind the Water is Cool in School campaign. This campaign aims to improve the quality of provision and access to fresh drinking water for children in schools. The two campaigns are linked because if pupils are to be encouraged to drink throughout the day, it is important that they be allowed to visit user-friendly toilets when they need to. See Why it’s important or Water, toilets and health for more information.

The Bog Standard campaign has been developed in partnership with the following organisations:

The campaign is helped by a large group of health and educational professionals across the UK.

The Bog Standard launch was sponsored by the following MPs:

On 13 October 2004, the Bog Standard campaign was officially launched in England at the Houses of Parliament with all-party parliamentary support.

The Bog Standard website has been created to raise awareness of the campaign, and to provide information and resources to pupils, parents, school staff and governors, health professionals, designers and architects, journalists and local and national government.

The aim of the campaign is to improve the standard in all pupils’ toilets nationwide. It also wants to ensure that children and young people have access to school toilets whenever they need to go.

Good quality toilets and free access to them are vital to pupils’ health. Many children and young people avoid using the toilets at school because they are dirty, smelly, are not private enough, or are frequented by bullies and smokers. Avoiding emptying, or not being allowed to empty the bladder and bowels when needed can lead to serious health problems, both now and later in life.

Currently, the only legislation governing pupils’ toilets is limited to the numbers of toilets required. There is nothing to specify that they have to be suitable, accessible, clean or maintained. This is in stark contrast to the legislation for adults, including teachers in schools, which sets out comprehensive requirements. The campaign aims to achieve equivalent standards for pupils, backed up by legislation and enforcement.

The Bog Standard campaign is organised by ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) and has been developed with School Councils UK, the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association and the British Toilet Association.

The pages on this website were written by:

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