Survey launched for young Manchester Arena Attack survivors to share their experiences and create change

A new survey has been launched today by a group of young survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena Attack to identify what help will be most beneficial to future young survivors of terror.

The survey asks children and young people to share their experiences of the support they've received since the attack and is part of the Bee the Difference research project.

The project, a collaboration between nine young survivors from the Manchester attack, the National Emergencies Trust, and researchers from Lancaster University aims to give young people affected by the attack a platform to talk about their experiences for the first time and the chance to create better outcomes for future young survivors of terror.

The findings from the anonymised survey will be shared later this year with organisations who can help make a difference to young people affected by terror, including government, healthcare and education providers and other civic and charitable bodies.

The nine young survivors who worked on the study have created a video to raise awareness of the project, where they sing their own arrangement of Beyonce’s song ‘Listen’. The aim is to encourage as many young participants as possible to take part and have their voices heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyd1rerZf0Y

The survey is open to all young people whose lives were affected by the attack in some way and who were aged under 18 at the time. This includes those who were present at the Arena and those who were impacted by what happened to a loved one or friend.

The project’s Lead Researcher, Dr Cath Hill, is a Lecturer in Social Work at Lancaster University, co-founder of the Manchester Survivors Choir and a member of the National Emergencies Trust’s Survivors Forum. She said: “I know through my experience with The Choir that young people affected by the Manchester attack have sought support in a range of places - their GP, counsellors, teachers, social groups and social media.

“Some of this was incredibly helpful, some of it missed the mark completely, while some measures taken inadvertently introduced more trauma. Five years on it’s time to start to talk about this and make sure young people who experience similar events in the future get the best possible care.”

Ellie Taylor, who was 15 at the time of the attack, is one of the young survivors who has helped design the research project. Ellie said: “Bee The Difference is a chance to take something that changed our lives completely in a negative way and turn it into something positive for the future. The questionnaire isn’t invasive. It’s not about your personal story and what you went through. It’s just a few questions to find out what worked mentally for you, and what didn’t help, so we can find out what needs to happen in the future.”

Ava Turner is another of the project’s designers, who was just 10 at the time of the attack. She said: “This project is about saying our opinions are valid. They are extremely valid and they do need to be brought up at some point. They can’t be hidden forever.”

Chief Executive of the National Emergencies Trust Mhairi Sharp said: “Only those who have lived through an act of terror can truly understand the needs of those affected, which is why this project gives a vital voice to young Manchester survivors. The findings will inform the way our charity gives financial gifts to those affected by terror attacks. But we hope it will also provide insights to enable all areas of society to provide the best possible support to children and young people who are affected by terrorism in future.”