Census day will take place on March 21.
Hundreds of buildings and landmarks throughout England and Wales, including the University of Birmingham’s Old Joe, will be lit in purple this weekend to celebrate the upcoming census and its importance to communities. The event is being organised by The Office for National Statistics (ONS) to raise awareness of census day on March 21, a survey that happens every ten years and gives a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales.
The clock face of Old Joe will light up in the Census 2021 brand colour of purple from March 19 through to March 21 as part of the celebrations, alongside other iconic landmarks such as the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, the BT Tower in London and Blackpool Tower.
Every household in England and Wales should have received a letter about the census with unique access codes enabling them to fill in their census online. The census helps inform decisions both nationally and locally on vital services and issues such as diversity. Organisations such as local authorities and charities use this picture to plan and fund the services we all need, including emergency services, mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, roads, GP’s and dentists’ services.
Census 2021 is also an opportunity to get fresh information to improve understanding of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will help to make sure that the services you use meet the needs of our changing society, including hospitals, schools, universities and job centres.
Census day is March 21, but you can fill yours in as soon as you receive your letter if you’re confident there will be no change in who usually lives in your household. Papers forms are available for those who need it, plus a range of other support. If you need any help, or to request a paper form, you can visit the Census 2021 website.