3.4. Mitigation Measures Implemented
RECRUITMENT
Project partners implemented several measures along the recruitment process, aimed at mitigating the abovementioned challenges and the risk of involving too few participants: Extra efforts in communication activities: All partners implemented additional communication activities to reach-out to a larger number of potentially interested young carers, through online channels (e.g., social networks) as well as being physically present in schools or in other places where young people commonly gather.Involvement of more stakeholders/partner organisations, as well as former young carers and young people: All partners identified and involved other organisations (e.g., non-profit organisations) and stakeholders (e.g., former young carers) that could help them to reach out to AYCs, engage them through the organisation of meetings and involve young people as research assistants in recruitment.Logistical measures: Many partners worked to provide as much logistic support as possible to their participants. This meant both scheduling sessions at times and places that could make it easier for young carers to attend and providing transportation to meeting venues.Organisational measures: Some partners executed contingency measures to help catch up with initial delays, such as running two sessions per week instead of one.Methodological adaptation: A mixed-method process evaluation was ultimately adopted with the engagement of stakeholders in all six partner countries. This allowed the project research team to complement quantitative information on the impact of the intervention together with a deeper understanding of the challenges encountered during the recruitment and implementation of the ME-WE intervention in each country.