The 2011 Census – six months to go and counting!

 

 

The Census is a survey of all the people and households in the country which takes place every ten years.

In a bid to ensure everyone completes their Census form accurately before returning it, the Office of National Statistics has launched a recruitment drive for temporary staff.

The ONS is looking to recruit local people in each area of the country to establish direct contact with residents and is recruiting via a dedicated website http://www.censusjobs.co.uk/

It is crucial Southend returns an accurate record on March 27 because following the last Census in 2001 the Borough was believed to have been undercounted by up to 17,000 residents.

This is a particular concern for Southend Together - the Borough's local strategic partnership whose members include key local public, private and community organisations such as Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, NHS South East Essex, Essex Police and Southend Association of Voluntary Services - because the Government calculates its funding for the Borough according to the official population figures recorded by the Census.

Accurate population figures also support bids for additional support and investment. If those 17,000 "lost" residents had been counted, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council alone would now be receiving up to £8.5million more every year, with less need to reduce spending or put up taxes.

Council Leader Nigel Holdcroft said: "It's in everyone's interest for full and correct information to be recorded.

"Future decisions and funding allocations for education, health, transport and many more public services are made on the basis of the National Census.

"We want to make sure that in future Southend receives the funding and investment it is entitled to.

"I urge everyone to fill in their Census form when it arrives. There is nothing to fear from filling in the form and sending it back, and completing it will help our whole community.

"We would also like to reassure everyone that the Census data is strictly confidential and individual details are not shared with other organisations or Government departments.

"Members of the Southend Together partnership are working hard to find the best ways to ensure all members of our community know about the Census and receive all the help and support they need when the time comes to fill the necessary forms in."

In March 2011 each household in England and Wales will receive a Census questionnaire, either through the post or delivered by hand. These questionnaires can be completed and returned by post or using the new secure online questionnaire.

A population census has been carried out every ten years in Britain since 1801 - except in 1941.

Aggregated data from previous censuses and the details of the 1911 Census are available on the internet at http://www.1911census.co.uk/ Further details of the 2011 National Census are also available at, (website no longer available)

Average household numbers getting smaller, says census

Household sizes in England and Wales are now less than half what they used to be in the census year of 1801, figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal.

Average household size in the first census of 1801 was 5.6, in 1901 it fell to 5.1 and in the last census in 2001, it was only 2.4.

In Essex the change has seen a larger fall from an average of 6 in 1801 to 2.4 in 2001

Being Christmas time, it means we now have proportionately fewer presents to buy and are finding uses for our left over turkey for a greater number of days after December 25 as we have fewer mouths to feed per household!