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DCMS Online FGs - Participant Consent Form

This form provides information about a research study as part of the National Youth Strategy consultation. As part of this study we are inviting you to participate in an online focus group led by members of the #iWill movement, with other young people and a researcher from Savanta.

This research is conducted by a consortium led by Savanta (an independent research agency), and including My Life My Say (a non-partisan youth engagement charity), Volunteering Matters (a volunteering community charity) and #iWill movement (a youth support and empowerment movement). This research is conducted for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and will inform its National Youth Strategy, and DCMS’s Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Nation report.

This focus group will last up 90 minutes, and will be recorded by a Savanta researcher for analysis purposes. In signing I consent to Savanta recording and using this video and/or audio for this research project only and understand it will be destroyed when it is no longer necessary for the purposes of this research, in accordance with Savanta’s Data Protection Policy Statement.

The data from this research will be shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to inform its work on the National Youth Strategy. All participants will be anonymised; responses will be aggregated and analysed as a complete data set. The findings from this research will be published, but where participants are quoted, their personal data will not be identifiable.

The protection of data, including personal and sensitive data, is of high importance to Savanta. As the data controller, Savanta will use appropriate technical and organizational measures to keep personal data secure, and in particular to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage. These may include:

● making sure that, where possible, personal data is pseudonymized or encrypted;

● ensuring the ongoing confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of processing systems and services;

● ensuring that, in the event of a physical or technical incident, availability and access to personal data can be restored in a timely manner; and

● a process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organizational measures for ensuring the security of the processing.

For more information please see Savanta’s Privacy Policy.

Only researchers from Savanta will see individual responses before they are aggregated and analysed as a complete data set. Participants will remain anonymous unless a disclosure or safeguarding risk is brought to researchers’ attention. Concerns may be raised by interviewers who have been speaking to a participant or contact directly from the participant. If a safeguarding concern emerges, researchers have a duty to follow the process set out in Savanta’s Safeguarding Policy.

The Savanta Safeguarding Policy provides comprehensive guidance for Savanta researchers to ensure ethical and safe practices when designing and carrying out both qualitative and quantitative studies. Aligning with key principles from the MRS Code of Conduct and applicable legislation, it sets standards and procedures related to researcher responsibilities, risk mitigation, and participant wellbeing.

Participation in this research is voluntary and participants can withdraw consent by sending an email to Matt McGinn ([email protected]) up to the point at which participants’ responses are aggregated and analysed as a complete data set (Wednesday 12 March 2025). Participants can also send an email to Matt McGinn ([email protected]) to request the removal of their personal data.

Further information on Savanta’s organisational approach to data security:

Savanta has implemented robust technical and organisational measures to ensure data security. The company holds ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials certification and is registered with the ICO. Savanta's IT security plan includes organisational support for information security, asset classification, personal security, and physical and environmental security management.

Savanta's data management covers the entire data journey on clients’ projects, from initial risk assessment to data destruction. Data is encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption and stored in secure servers physically located in the EEA. Access to our systems is granted on the basis of least privilege, and access to client folders is controlled by the account lead. Savanta employs a

Security Incident & Event Management (SIEM) solution for event logging and has a Data Retention policy in place.

Savanta's systems are hosted by Egnyte. Egnyte is SOC 2 SSAE 18 Type 2 compliant and ISO 27001 certified. Data is stored in a Tier III, SSAE 16 compliant data centre featuring 24-hour manned security, biometric access control, and video surveillance. Egnyte employs ICSA-certified firewalls to police traffic between public networks and the servers where company data resides.

All Savanta employees have to complete a suite of compliance training including information and personal data security, MRS Code of Conduct, CSR, bribery and corruption, and supplier management. Access to our systems is conditional on completion of this training and on signing a detailed User Agreement. The training is repeated annually.

Confidentiality clauses are included in employment, client and supplier contracts. Physical security measures at Savanta offices include ID Cards, CCTV, badge swipes, and controlled reception.

Savanta's Business Assurance Committee (BAC) oversees risk management, data protection and security governance. The company's IT security is continually reviewed and updated by the BAC and we conduct quarterly internal audits. In addition, our ISMS is subject to annual external audit by the British Assessment Bureau and regular client-initiated audits. Pen tests are conducted at least annually.

I have read, understood and agree to take part in the study on the above terms.

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March 4, 2025 3:00 pm GMT

DCMS Online FGs - Participant Consent Form Uploaded by Hannah Kruger - [email protected] IP 82.148.32.25