FAQs FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

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What does participation involve?

This is a longitudinal study, which means the research will follow the same group of children and their parents/guardian over the next two years. At the end of the survey, we will ask for your permission to recontact you and your child for further research related to this project. We will send reminders and updates to make it easy to stay involved, and you and your child can choose to continue or withdraw at any stage. Each survey will include an incentive to thank you for your participation.

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How did you get my child’s details? 

Your child’s contact details were selected randomly from the National Pupil Database. This is a database maintained by the Department for Education (DfE). We have been given permission by DfE to use your details only for the purpose of this research.  

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Who is conducting the survey? 

The survey is being conducted by Verian (an independent research agency) on behalf of the Home Office. To find out more about Verian, please visit https://www.veriangroup.com/en-gb/.  

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What are the benefits of taking part?

By taking part, you and your child will be helping to build a more accurate picture of what young people experience online. Your child may also feel positive about being listened to, having their experiences valued, and knowing that their voice can help adults understand important issues affecting young people today. The Home Office will use the findings from this study to make informed decisions about the kinds of support, guidance, and protection that young people and their parents/guardians may need. 

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What are the risks of taking part?

Due to the nature of the questions, your child may experience discomfort or distress while taking part in the survey. Some questions ask about content they might have seen online that was unpleasant or worrying, and thinking about these experiences could bring up difficult feelings. However, your child could skip questions, and they can select ‘Don’t know’ or ‘Prefer not to say’ in these cases. They can also stop the survey at any point. 

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Is this survey confidential?

Yes, the information collected in this survey will only be used for research and statistical purposes. No individual or household will be identifiable from the statistics published using the data collected. Your contact details will only be retained for the duration of the project by Verian for the purposes of administering the survey. These will be kept separate from your answers and will not be shared with any organisation outside of Verian or the trusted suppliers who assist in running the survey. Data from the survey will be shared with the Home Office for the purpose of producing and publishing anonymous statistics only. The data shared will not contain your name or email address. For more information about how we use your data and keep it confidential, you can access the survey privacy policy here.

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How do I collect our vouchers? 

At the end of your survey, you can choose how you would like to receive your voucher. You may either:

  • Receive an online voucher code by email, which includes a link to Merit (our incentive provider) where you can redeem it for a range of different vouchers; or
  • Receive a Love2Shop voucher by post.

In both cases, the voucher will only be sent once your child has completed their survey.

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What if I don’t want my child to take part? 

You can opt out by contacting us on Freephone 0800 051 0888 or by emailing us at YDESurvey@veriangroup.com.

Please include the reference number found on the letter. If you want to get in touch with the Home Office, you can send an email to YouthDigitalExperiencesSurvey@homeoffice.gov.uk.

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What is the permissions process and do I need to complete this?  

If your child is under 16 when the survey opens, we will need to seek your permission before they can take part. If you are happy for them to take part, please pass the enclosed letter on to them which has their log in details to be able to complete the survey. If your child is already 16 years’ old, we still ask that you give permission at the end of your survey to activate their survey. The UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) contains provisions intended to enhance the protection of young people’s personal data and the Market Research Society (MRS) provides specific guidelines about what is required to ensure young people’s rights and personal information are protected. For more information see: www.mrs.org.uk/standards/mrs-guidance. 

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