Working together to deliver a successful Census 2021

The Office for National Statistics is working with Bury Council to deliver a successful census and help local services to fully meet future needs.

Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central government to local organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census data informs where public funding is spent on services like transport, education and health – on everything from cycle routes to schools and dental surgeries.

The census, which takes place on 21 March 2021, will shed light on the needs of different groups and communities, and the inequalities people are experiencing, ensuring the big decisions facing the country following the coronavirus pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information possible.

Elaine Boyle, census engagement manager for Bury, said: “I am really excited to be working with local communities to ensure that everyone is counted and therefore represented in the census data.

“The data produced following the census is used in so many areas of our lives, such as the provision of children’s services and doctors’ surgeries and in the planning of transport links. The information people include on their census questionnaire will be used to make major decisions and to inform investment for the next ten years.

“The collection this year is particularly important. The pandemic has had an impact on everyone's life in some way. This census will record these changes and help provide the data from which we can build the future. This will be the information that the history books of tomorrow will work from when referencing the pandemic that shook the world. This is one of many reasons why it's so important everyone completes their census and is counted.”

Households will begin receiving letters with online codes in March explaining how they can complete their online census. People can also request a paper questionnaire if they’d prefer to complete the census that way. In areas where lower online completion is expected, around 10% of households will receive a traditional paper form through the post.

There is plenty of help available, with people also able to complete the census over the phone with assistance from trained staff via the ONS’s free phone contact centre. The ONS also aims to provide in-person support to complete the census online through Census Support Centres where it is safe to do so.

The main census field operation will begin only after Census Day, contacting those who have not responded. Field staff will never need to enter people’s houses; they will always be socially distanced, wear PPE and work in line with all government guidance. They will be operating in the same way as a postal or food delivery visit.

Census 2021 will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available in 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information and advice on how to answer the questions, visit www.census.gov.uk

ENDS

Issued: 9 March 2021.