Frequently Asked Questions

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About the survey

Why is this survey taking place?

The Participation Survey has been designed to gather information to help decide how public money is spent on sports, arts, culture, and other facilities in your local area.

The results of the survey will help DCMS and DSIT and their partners understand what supports or hinders people taking part in different types of activities and will be used to help improve the quality of life for all through sporting and cultural activities.


Who is conducting the survey?

The survey is being conducted by Verian - an independent agency - on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

To find out more about Verian, please visit  www.veriangroup.com/.

More information about the survey is available here.


What is the role of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)?

DCMS and DSIT protect and promote cultural and artistic heritage and help businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit.

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Taking part

Why did we choose your address?

As it is not possible to ask everyone to take part in the survey, we select a random list of addresses to represent the entire country. Your address was selected at random from a list of private addresses held by the Royal Mail.


I don't think this survey is relevant to me

Everyone's views and experiences are valuable, even if you don't participate in any activities or you don't think your views are relevant. The results need to be representative of everyone in England.


I don't have access to the internet, but I want to take part

If you are unable to complete the survey online, you can request a paper version of the questionnaire via the contact details below.

Call the survey helpline on 0800 904 7726

Or email Verian at


Who should I contact if I don't want to take part?

Taking part is voluntary, but we hope that you will as this will give us the best possible picture of the different types of activities people do in their spare time in England.

If you do not wish to take part, you don't need to do anything, although you may still receive up to three reminders from us, which you may also ignore.

If you do not wish to receive any further reminder mailings, you can either:

Call the survey helpline on 0800 904 7726

Or email Verian at

Please be ready to provide your reference number, address and postcode so we can opt you out of further communication. The reference number is located on the top of the letter.

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How do I complete the survey?

What do you need to do?

You can complete the survey online by following the instructions in the letter you have received.

You simply need to go to this website, enter one of the user IDs and associated password provided and complete the questionnaire by the date shown on the front of the letter. The survey should take around 30 minutes to complete. Only people that live in your household are allowed to take part.


What will I be asked about?

The survey covers a range of topics about your life, including questions on:

  • Your demographic information
  • Arts
  • Libraries
  • Museums
  • Heritage sites
  • Digital skills & infrastructure
  • Sport
  • Gambling
  • Tourism
  • Mobile internet

For more information about the survey content, click here.


Do I have to answer all the questions?

Answering the questions is voluntary. The survey includes some questions about you such as your age, ethnicity, employment history etc. We ask these sorts of question so we can ensure that everyone's views are captured. However, if you do not wish to answer these sorts of questions then you can select 'prefer not to answer' to move to the next question.


Can I help someone fill in the survey?

Yes, that's fine. If a friend or a relative needs your help in filling in the questionnaire, you can offer help. But the answers should be about their experience only.


How can I claim my voucher?

Once you have completed the survey you will be directed to our voucher website, where you can choose from a range of different shopping vouchers.

If you complete the survey using a paper questionnaire, we will post a voucher to you once we have received the completed questionnaire.

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Confidentiality and data protection

Is this survey confidential?

Yes, the information that is collected will only be used for research and statistical purposes. Your contact details will be kept separate from your answers and will not be passed on to any organisation outside of Verian or supplier organisations who assist in running the survey.


Data Protection

Taking part is voluntary and any information you give us will be used only with your consent. Your answers will be processed in compliance with the Data Protection Action 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation.

For more information about how we keep your data safe, click here.

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Contact us

If you would like any further details about the survey or have any issues completing the survey you can email us at or call our dedicated helpline team on 0800 904 7726. Please have your reference number to hand.

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