Participant Information Sheet
Lincolnshire Women’s Mapping Inventory of Women’s Specific Services in Lincolnshire
Names of researchers: Dr Lyndsey Harris, Dr Lauren Smith, and Tilly Varrall
We would like to invite you to complete a survey during which you will be asked questions about any services you have accessed. Your participation in this study is voluntary. Before you take part, we would like you to understand why the research is being done and what it would involve.
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner funded research is to map the existing services in Lincolnshire that support women and girls, to address the lack of information regarding what existing women-specific services operate within Lincolnshire and assist future funding bids.
Who can take part?
Women over the age of 18 based in Lincolnshire who have accessed services within the past six months can take part.
Parents/carers of girls under the age of 18 who wish to take part may complete the survey on their behalf.
Do I have to take part?
Taking part in this survey is voluntary. You are free to withdraw at any time during the data collection stage by closing the internet browser, if you have taken part online, or by disposing of the survey, if you have a paper copy. Please note that it will not be possible to withdraw once you have sent your survey because you will have taken part anonymously. Partial responses will not be included in any analysis.
What will taking part involve?
You will be asked to participate in a short survey that should take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete. You will be asked to provide information about the service that you have accessed and your experience using this service. Your participation is completely anonymous and voluntary, and you may skip any question you do not wish to answer.
Depending on the participant’s own experiences, the survey may include discussions of distressing topics, as some questions enquire into reasons for accessing services. This may risk retraumatisation. Participants are advised to consider this risk before taking part.
Expenses and payments
Participants will be entered into a draw to win a £50 voucher of your choice. There will be two vouchers available. If you wish to be entered into the prize draw, we will need to keep some contact details for you but these will be stored separately from your survey responses.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
Some sensitive topics may be covered during the survey’s completion, and it should be considered that this may therefore cause some distress. These topics could include discussions of experiences of addiction, abuse, mental health issues, and disabilities. The participant can decide how much of this information they feel comfortable sharing.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
By taking part in this survey, participants will be contributing to the mapping of services and subsequent production of an inventory of the existing services in place across Lincolnshire which support women and girls. The identification of gender specific offerings provided across Lincolnshire will facilitate greater partnership working and choice for women and girls in the county.
Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?
We will follow the University of Lincoln’s ethical and legal practice and all information about you will be handled in the strictest confidence. Information will be stored safely on the University of Lincoln’s server and will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team.
Privacy notice
The University of Lincoln is the lead organisation for this study. The university’s Research Participant Privacy notice
https://ethics.lincoln.ac.uk/research-privacy-notice/ will explain how we will be using information fromyou to undertake this study and will be the data controller for this study. This means that we are responsible for looking after your information and using it properly in line with GDPR.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
Data will be treated confidentially and any publication resulting from this study will report only non-identifiable data. No information that identifies and individual participant will be shared.
Who is organising and funding the research?
The research team within the University of Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Who has reviewed the study?
All research conducted by the University of Lincoln is looked at by an independent group of people, called a Research Ethics committee, to protect your interests.
What if there is a problem?
If you have a concern about any aspect of this study, you should ask to speak to the researchers who will do their best to answer your questions. The researchers contact details are given at the end of this information sheet. If you remain unhappy and wish to complain formally, you can do this by contacting
ethics@lincoln.ac.uk. Please provide reference number 2025_20331.
If you feel that we let you down in relation to your information rights, then please contact the Information Compliance team by email on
compliance@lincoln.ac.uk or by post at Information Compliance, Secretariat, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS.
You can also make complaints directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is the independent authority upholding information rights for the UK. Their website is ico.org.uk and their telephone helpline number is 0303 123 1113.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this form, here are some contacts which can offer support:
Call the Samaritans on 116 123
Further information and contact details:
University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. LN6 7TS
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