The census is a unique survey that happens every 10 years. It provides a snapshot of all the people and households in Britain – the most detailed information we have about our society – on one particular day. Census Day is Sunday 21 March 2021.
By taking part, you can help inform decisions on services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport. Without the information you share, it’d be more difficult to understand your community’s needs and to plan and fund public services so it is really important to take part.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England and Wales and is independent from government.
Ahead of Census Day, the ONS will send you a letter in the post with instructions on how to complete your census questionnaire . If you have access to the internet you can use the code in your letter to completer the questionnaire online before Census Day. If your household circumstances change on Census Day, you can let the ONS know. Your details are protected by law and information published is always anonymous.
See Census 2021 :Your Questions Answered
The ONS has tried to make sure that everyone has the support they need to fill in the census and has produced a leaflet about the different ways of accessing information and guidance in accessible formats and in other languages. See How to Get Help.
You can find out more online at www.census.gov.uk
There is a help area on the census website covering everything from who to include on the questionnaire to how to answer each question.
Information is available in Easy Read
Videos are available in British Sign Language.
Census staff are on hand to give help over the phone in England
Freephone 0800 141 2021 or text relay service (18001) 0800 141 2021.
The free language helpline is 0800 587 2021
To find out your local census support centres call freephone 0800 141 2021.
We’ll provide more information about accessibility and local census support centres in a later blog.
