Competition Theme: Social Media
Top Prize: £100 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card
Privacy Notice - Young Writers Competition
This privacy notice explains how your personal data will be used, stored, and protected when you take part in the online writing competition.
Who is running this competition?
The competition is part of a research project being carried out by a PhD researcher at Keele University and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). You can find more information about the research on the ‘About the Research’ page of the website.
What personal data will be collected?
When you enter the competition, we will collect:
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Your name
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Your age
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Your gender
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Your email address
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A parent or guardian’s email address
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Your story submission
Why are we collecting this information?
We collect this information to:
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Make sure you're eligible to take part (aged 13–16 and have parental permission)
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Contact you if you win a prize
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Understand general demographics (such as age and gender) to inform the research
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Use your story (anonymously) in academic research, if you give consent
Who will see your data?
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Only the researcher will have access to your personal details.
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The competition judge will read your story anonymously — they won’t see your name, age, gender, or contact details.
How will your data be stored?
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All data will be stored securely on a password-protected computer.
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Stories and personal details will be stored in separate, secure folders.
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After the competition ends, personal contact details and identifiable information (including name, gender, and email addresses) will be deleted within 12 months.
Will my data be shared or published?
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Your personal details will never be shared or published.
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If you agree for your story to be used in research, short extracts may be included in research papers or presentations, but your personal details (e.g., your name) will never be included.
Can I withdraw my data?
Yes. You can ask to withdraw your story and personal data within 21 days of submitting your entry. Please use the contact form on the website to do this.
Who can I contact with questions?
If you or your parent/guardian have any questions about how your data is being used, please use the contact form on the website to get in touch with the researcher.
Complaints or concerns
If you have concerns about how your personal data has been handled, you can contact Keele University’s Data Protection Officer at dpo@keele.ac.uk, who will investigate the matter.
If you are not satisfied with the response, or believe your data has been processed unlawfully, you can raise a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
