Frequently Asked Questions

Before you decide whether your child should be measured for Shape GB - The National Childrenswear Survey - you need to understand why the survey is being done and what it would involve for your child/children. Please take time to read the following information carefully.

What is the purpose of the study?

In order to design children’s clothes to ensure the best possible fit retailers need to understand - in detail - the size and shape of boys and girls in different age groups.

The Shape GB survey is designed to collect information on body measurements of children and young adults (aged 4-17) . The data gathered will provide a more sophisticated means of measuring and analysing children’s measurements and will identify the differences in height and body shape between children of different ages to enable retailers to improve the sizing and fit of their clothing using computerised technology (3D body scanners).

By doing this survey, retailers hope to gain a more accurate and up to date understanding of children’s shape and body measurements. This will allow them to more precisely predict such things as leg-lengths, waist measurements, the size of an arm hole and how much room to leave in a child’s top etc.
Why has my child been invited?

We are asking your child/ren to take part as the information will help the retailers to improve the sizing and fit of their clothing. Your child/ren will be amongst the first child/ren in the world to be measured using the 3D body scanner.
Does my child have to take part?

No - participation is entirely voluntary. We have explained the process in full in this information sheet so that you and your child/ren can decide. We will then ask you to sign a consent form to show you have agreed to take part. Your child/ren is/are free to withdraw at any time, without giving a reason.
Accompanying adults

A parent may book in their child for a scanning appointment and provide the first name, last name and contact telephone no. during the booking process of the guardian or authorised person accompanying the child if it is not the parent.

It is important that ONLY the adult whose details are supplied may accompany the child to the scanning appointment. Identification may be asked for at the location for verification of the accompanying adult/guardian.

If another adult accompanies the child with details that have not been supplied to Shape GB, a refusal to scan will be made.

All participants must be accompanied by an English speaking parent or guardian as interpretation facilities may not be available at locations.
What is the 3D body scanner?

The 3D body scanner looks like a photo booth and is very private (no-one else can see you). A 3D image of your child’s body will be taken in 6 seconds using safe white light. The 3D image will not be recognisable because it will be made up of a line drawing or your child/ren’s body without the head (see below). It does NOT produce a photographic image.

Scanners like this have been used for more than 15 years to measure adults for clothing fit and they only measure the outside of a person’s shape.

This is an example to give you some idea of what your child’s scan may look like after the information has been processed. The final version may or may not include a ‘generic’ head attached which will make the image seem more ‘real’ but will still avoid any chance of the individual being recognised.
Do I or my child get anything for taking part in Shape GB?

As a thank you for your time, you will receive vouchers to spend in store or online at one of the participating retailers, unfortunately we no longer have NEXT vouchers available.

• Parents that book into take part with 1 child will either receive £10 Monsoon/ASDA voucher or a £30 promotional code to spend online at very.co.uk of a £60 plus spend

• Parents that bring more than 1 child will receive an additional £5 retailer voucher for each additional child, unless choosing £30 online voucher in which they will recieve an extra £5 voucher for the 3rd, 4th, 5th etc child

• Those aged 16 or 17yrs can book their own appointment to come along and attend without a parent/guardian present and will either receive £10 Monsoon/ASDA voucher or a £30 promotional code to spend online at very.co.uk of a £60 plus spend

The measuring venues and the Project Partners reserve the right to alter the methods in which vouchers are distributed given the demands of the project at the time. Vouchers will only be issued to those parents who book and attend to be scanned – registration for an appointment in itself does not constitute entitlement to a voucher.
Where will the scanning take place?

Scanning is due to take place in a number of locations throughout the country.

The first phase of scanning is due to take place at the following locations -

Edinburgh
Cardiff
Hull
London
Birmingham
Hertfordshire
Leicester
Loughborough
Manchester
What will my child have to do?

On the day your child is scanned you will meet with a representative at the 3D scanning facility for a short chat to go through the scanning process. A lot of the information we need will have been collected on the website at the booking stage, but you will be asked to sign a consent form authorising us to capture and use your child’s data anonymously.

Your child will then be asked to go into a changing room and remove their outer clothing but will keep their underwear on to be scanned. This is a private booth in a private room and from this point on the data will be used anonymously.

It would be helpful if your child’s underwear was a similar colour to their skin colour but we will provide this if necessary. Your child/ren will be given a dressing gown to wear as they go from the changing room to the scanner. No-one will see them as they enter the scanner as it is away from the ‘waiting area’. Your child will be asked to stand still in the booth while they are automatically scanned.

After the scan, a trained male or female researcher with CRB clearance will also collect their head circumference manually and also hand measurements manually using a tape measure. The child's weight and height will also be recorded. The whole process will take no longer than ten minutes. The information we collect about your child will not be given to anyone else and any information we look at will be anonymous.

Here is a short presentation showing what happens during the scanning process:
Can I go into the scanner with my child?

You will be able to go into the scanner initially to familiarise your child with the surroundings, but while the scan is taking place a curtain will be drawn and your child will be alone in the booth. You will be able to stand outside the curtain to re-assure your child.
Are there any disadvantages or risks of taking part?

There are no side effects to using the 3D body scanner. Clothing manufacturers have scanned thousands of adults in the past. However during the scanning there are several brief bursts of flashing lights which can affect people who experience seizures. If your child/ren have had seizures or are on treatment for seizures you must let us know.
What happens when the survey ends?

The Shape GB survey will be running throughout 2009 and we hope to eventually scan several thousand children - both boys and girls - in different age groups. Once the survey is complete, we will collate all the scans we have collected and the information will be used when designing, specifying and manufacturing our clothing.

Given the national representation of the sample, in the long-term the anonymous data will also be used for other purposes such as seat design, healthcare statistics and to analyse height variation between children of the same age.
What if there is a problem?

Should you have any concerns or queries about the way your child has been dealt with during the study, we will be happy to address them. Please contact: The Project Director, The Shape GB Survey, c/o Select Research Ltd, 42, Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B15 1TS.
Will my child’s taking part in the survey be kept confidential?

Yes. We will follow the Market Research Society Code of Conduct, the Data Protection Act and legal practice. All information about your child will be handled in confidence.
When are the sessions being held?

These are detailed on the website here with individual slots to be reserved. Please only book an appointment if you are serious about attending to be scanned at that time as appointment times are limited.

Further information and contact details

For general information regarding the survey and for advise please contact Select Research on 0870 727 1658

Thank you for taking the time to read this - please ask any questions if you need to and we hope you can help us in this exciting research project