We’re looking for young people to help us explore how online spaces affect young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and what makes them safe and supportive.
You could either lead the project as a peer researcher or take part in the research and share your experiences of life online.
Why it matters
There is a lot of debate about young people and the online world. Much of it focuses on harms such as bullying and harmful content. Important decisions are being made about young people’s access to online spaces. But being online can also bring real benefits, including connection, support and a sense of belonging.
Young people’s own views are often missing from these conversations. This project puts young people in the lead, so that what we learn, and what we recommend, is based on their experiences.
This work is part of Thriving Online, a youth-led research project run by the Mental Health Foundation and Shortwork, a social research organisation that specialises in participatory research. We’re working with Comics Youth and Voicing the Void, two organisations that work creatively with young people.
What we’ll be doing
From January to July 2027, a team of eight young people will lead the research, with training and support from Shortwork. They’ll speak with around 100 other young people across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about their lives online: what helps, what doesn’t, and what would make things better.
Peer researchers are people with lived experience of the issue being studied, who help to steer and carry out the research. When researchers are a similar age, come from a similar background, or have similar life experiences to the people taking part, this can help to make the research more authentic and make sure its conclusions and recommendations are relevant to the communities involved.
The Mental Health Foundation’s Youth Advisory Group will help steer the project along the way.
We’ll use what we find to create three guides, one each for young people, parents and online platforms. We’ll be working with Comics Youth artists on their design.
Get involved
There are a couple of ways for young people to get involved in this work.
Become a peer researcher
We’re looking for eight young people aged 16-20 to join our peer research team. You don’t need any research experience. What matters is what you bring: your enthusiasm, your curiosity, and your connections with other young people.
As a peer researcher, you will:
- take part in six training sessions in January and early February, covering research skills and methods
- plan and carry out research with other young people between February and April 2027, online or in person, with support from our team
- come together with the rest of the team for two in-person days to make sense of what you’ve found
- shape practical guides for young people, parents and social media platforms based on the research
- help present the findings to the Mental Health Foundation
The role involves up to 70 hours work between January and July 2027. You’ll be paid £15 an hour, including training, and your travel and other expenses will be covered.
You’ll gain training and experience you can add to your CV, the chance to shape a national project, and support from our team throughout. There is also the opportunity to continue to be involved as a peer researcher with the Mental Health Foundation after the project finishes.
We particularly welcome applications from young people whose voices are less often heard, including LGBTQ+ young people, disabled and neurodivergent young people, and young people from racially and ethnically marginalised communities.
If you are shortlisted you will be invited to a short interview over the phone or on video call.
Closing date for applications: 5pm Wednesday 2nd December 2026
Take part in the research
If you’re aged 13-24 and live in the UK and would like to share your experiences of life online, you can take part in a conversation or creative session led by our peer researchers. This could be one to one or in a small group, online or in person, whichever suits you. You choose what you share, and you can stop at any time.
Staying safe and your data
All our sessions are designed with young people’s safety in mind, and our team is trained and DBS checked. Anything you share will be kept confidential and stored securely, and nothing will be published that could identify you.
For parents, carers and youth workers
If you support young people who might be interested in taking part, please share this page with them, or get in touch to find out more.
Questions? Email info@shortwork.org.uk