CONfidence App
Helping people live fuller lives — with dignity, confidence, and the right support.
The CONfidence app is our way of saying: you’re not alone, and help is right here in your hands.
The numbers are big. But so is the silence.
In the NHS and across our communities, bladder and bowel leakage affects millions — quietly, and all too often invisibly.
More than 14 million people in the UK live with bladder control problems. Over 6.5 million struggle with bowel control. And at any one time, 900,000 children are dealing with continence conditions.
It touches every age group. And it’s not just a medical issue — it’s a deeply personal one that can shrink lives, isolate people and erode confidence.
Tackle stigma with practical, trusted support
Bladder and bowel leakage affects millions — so they miss out on life. Yet many people don’t seek help due to embarrassment or misinformation.
The CONfidence app offers reliable, plain-language advice in one easy-to-access place, helping people self-care safely and seek support sooner.
- Free to download
- Works offline
- No login or data collection
Created with experts. Informed by real experiences.
The CONfidence app was co-created withs people who live with incontinence and specialists in continence care.
The app's project leads are Dr Nikki Cotterill, Associate Professor in Continence Care and Florence Nightingale Foundation Leadership Scholar, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, UWE Bristol and Dr Knut Schroeder, GP and founder of Expert Self Care.
We worked in partnership with the Bristol Health Partners Bladder and Bowel Confidence (BABCON) Health Integration Team and:
- Bladder & Bowel UK
- Bristol Urological Institute
- Continence Product Advisor
- ERIC, The Children's Bowel & Bladder Charity
- Florence Nightingale Foundation
- Sirona Care and Health Bladder and Bowel Service
- UWE Bristol
Expert Self Care funded the app's development, supported by a small grant from the Bristol Urological Institute.
Designed for integration. Built for impact.
Use CONfidence to enhance your service offer — without adding to your workload.
- Deliver safe, evidence-based advice — instantly accessible, even offline
- Reduce avoidable appointments — by encouraging informed self-care
- Signpost to services — using national and local information
Easily integrate CONfidence into existing service pathways — no registration needed.
Make it local. Make it yours.
Want to tailor the app for your area? We can help you:
- Create a branded local homepage
- Add a custom signposting page for regional support services
- Share targeted messages with your population
Learn more about customisation options for your ICS, Trust, or local team.
What the app includes.
Over 70 easy-to-read articles created and reviewed by clinicians, subject experts, and people with lived experience.
All content carries the Patient Information Forum PIF TICK — the UK's trusted quality mark for health content.
Topics incude:
- About — Symptoms, feelings, myths, stats
- Causes — Medical conditions, menopause, pregnancy, mental health
- Self-help — Toileting, hydration, triggers, pelvic floor, intimacy
- Treatments — Bladder training, conservative and surgical options
- Products — Pads, protection, aids, odour control
- Life advice — Work, travel, staying active
- Young people — Toilet training, school, teens, family support
- Carers — Support strategies, hygiene, self-care
- Getting help — Services, charities, helplines, pharmacy, GP, specialists
Watch this one-minute video for a quick introduction:
What people say
"Very helpful, useful and relevant — delivered in a way that isn't at all judgemental."
"This gives people suffering from incontinence the tools to manage their own symptoms."
"It will encourage people to ask for help rather than suffer in silence"
Integrate the app into your services.
You can integrate the app into existing service pathways without registration.
Watch this video for healthcare providers:
Let's work together.
If you're passionate about improving lives and reducing stigma, we'd love to hear from you.
Together, we can give more people the knowledge, support, and confidence they need to live the life they want.