We would like to invite you to support Project Ember, a research study funded by Safe Online and led by SWGfL. The study explores the online experiences of young people (13-24 years), particularly how they view and respond to harmful online behaviours. The aim is to reach a diverse group of young people across the UK to better understand the challenges they face online, their understanding and views about reporting online harmful behaviour and improve the support services available to them.
The survey:
- Is completely anonymous (no personal or identifying information is collected).
- Takes approximately 15 minutes.
- Is open to young people aged 13-24 years (those under 16 years of age will need consent from a trusted adult before providing their own consent).
- Includes signposting to support services throughout the survey.
- Has received full ethics approval from the University of Suffolk (RETH24/075).
We have attached some more detailed information for the school below, as well as an information sheet for parents/guardians/carers and one specifically tailored to young people. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share this among your network (e.g. parental newsletters, staff communication, pastoral teams, safeguarding leads, PSHE coordinators, or tutor groups).
If you have any questions about the study, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ember@swgfl.org.uk.
Supporting Resources
Disclaimer - Is This Survey Right for You?
We want to make sure that everyone who takes part in this survey feels safe and comfortable doing so.
This survey asks questions about online experiences - including some that may be upsetting or sensitive to some young people, such as being bullied, threatened, or treated inappropriately online.
Because of this, we suggest that young people taking part:
- Feel confident reading and answering questions in English, ideally by themselves, but if necessary with help from a trusted adult. The survey platform also allows for support in the form of having the question and answers read out loud.
- Are able to think about and reflect on their own experiences, including those that may have felt uncomfortable or upsetting.
- Understand that they can stop at any time – there is no pressure to finish the survey. No answers or data will be submitted until the ‘submit’ button is pressed at the end of the survey.
- Know how to ask for support if they feel worried or upset at any point. We provide a link to support resources throughout the survey and you can access the support information here.
If you are a young person reading this and you’re not sure if the survey is right for you, that’s okay. You can speak to a trusted adult (like a parent, carer, teacher, or support worker) and decide together. Taking care of your wellbeing is the most important thing.
If you are an adult supporting a young person, please use your judgement about whether the young person is likely to understand the questions and handle the content in a way that feels manageable for them. The survey is designed for young people aged 13-24, but not everyone within this age range will have the same level of emotional or cognitive readiness. It’s okay to decide that now may not be the right time to take part.
We want to hear from as many young people as possible - but only when it’s safe and appropriate for them to share.