Cornwall Census Briefing

The Census is taking place on Sunday 21 March, 2021

Take part in Census 2021

Households across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us 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.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has appointedtwo census engagement managers to support Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly’s residents and help make Census 2021 a success.

Heidi Clemo & John Floyd, the area’s census engagement manager will help organisations, charities, faith groups and community leaders within the county raise awareness of the census and the value to residents in taking part.

 In Cornwall the census engagement managers are also helping to spread the message that if people would like to be recorded as ‘Cornish’ on the Census then they can do this within the open field text box.

Heidi Clemo, Community Engagement Manager said “John and I both feel a great privilege to be playing our part in recording history in our home County.” John went on to add “The passion of business, charities and communities across our County is clear and we are working hard to ensure everyone is aware of Census 2021”.

It will be 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.

“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.

“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. 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 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 within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information, visit census.gov.uk.