Households in Cornwall, alongside the rest of England and Wales will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.
This year will mark the first Census run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.
Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, says:
“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”
Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.
The census will include questions about your gender, 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 within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
CFWI was contacted recently by John Floyd, a census engagement manager for South West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. He explained that his group’s main role is to talk and engage with certain key population groups. These groups have been agreed by the Office for National Statistics and Cornwall Council. These have been classed as groups which may have certain barriers which prevent them from completing the census, or do not want to complete.
He is hoping that WI members may be interested in assisting him to achieve the goal of engaging with these groups.
If you would like to discuss this further, you may contact him on john.floyd12@field.census.gov.uk. Or you can visit the Census 2021 website for more information, or access this leaflet which will give you more details.