Survey

Our researchproject is called geste. We – that is the University of Siegen, University of  Hamburg and the Royal Holloway University of London – are investigating and documenting the living conditions, the well-being and the opportunities for participation in residential care for young people in England, Germany, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For this purpose, we conducted group discussions with young people in residential care in Germany and England which resulted in this questionnaire for Germany and Britain. By answering the questionnaire, you are helping us to improve the support for young people in care. Thank you very much! You can find more information on this homepage

We would like to ask you…

• how you are involved in making decisions in your children’s home or semi-independent accommodation (for example, about your day-to-day life)
• whether your children’s home has rules and what you think about the rules there,
• what happens if someone doesn’t play by the rules or something goes wrong that is not in line with the rules,
• whether you feel disadvantaged because you live in residential care,
• what your relationship is like with your carers and other young people living in your children’s home,
• how health, sexuality and personal boundaries are dealt with in your children’s home or semi-independent accommodation,
• what you can afford and what you cannot,
• and how you are doing overall.

The questionnaire contains questions that can make you feel uncomfortable – for example, about sadness, experiences with overstepped personal boundaries, sexualised behaviour, insults or unpleasant feelings. You can always decide for yourself which questions you want to answer or skip. Please set your own boundaries.

All young people with residential care experience between the ages of 14 and 21 can participate.

The study is being conducted by the University of Siegen. Prof. Zoë Clark and her team of research assistants are responsible for the study.

You can access our online questionnaire via the link or the QR code. You can use a tablet, smartphone or laptop/PC. It will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. You can save your answers and stop the survey at any time if you wish.

The survey is anonymous and voluntary. This means that no one can trace your answers back to you and that you can leave questions unanswered.

At the end of the questionnaire, you will have the chance to enter a prize draw to win brand new BEATS headphones.

Data protection is very important to us! We undertake to use the data collected within the framework of this project exclusively for research and teaching purposes and to treat it confidentially. Overall, we work DSGVO compliant and according to the data protection guidelines of the universities. Consent to participate is voluntary for all young people.

Furthermore, the survey is anonymous. This means that no one can trace your answers back to you and that you can leave questions unanswered. In the end, we don’t know that the questionnaire came from you and we don’t know from which residential group. We can only use the link to bring together all the answers from one residential group. No one else can trace your answers back to you, not even your carers.

You can find more information at https://residentialcare-youthvoice.co.uk. You can also write to us or call us. You can reach us by email at zoe.clark@uni-siegen or petra.gobbels-koch@rhul.ac.uk.

If you are unhappy, you can find support services here that you can turn to.

Trouble in the children’s home, problems with carers

 Coram Voice

Coram Voice offers support and information for children and young people in care, on the edge of care and care leavers.

https://coramvoice.org.uk/

Call: 0808 800 5792

Text: 07758 670369

Become charity

https://becomecharity.org.uk/get-support/care-advice-line/

Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm

Mental health support services

Youth helpline

For 13-20 year old

033060661174

Coping with violent and sexualised events

Victim Support

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.

https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

free 24/7 Supportline – 08 08 16 89 111

Rape Crisis

Rape Crisis England & Wales is the umbrella body for a network of independent Rape Crisis Centres. All our member Centres provide specialist support and services for victims and survivors of sexual violence.

https://rapecrisis.org.uk/

National Telephone Helpline – 0808 802 9999