Switchboard’s Census Support Service

The census is a unique survey that takes place every 10 years across England and Wales.

What makes this census even more significant is for the first ever it is asking about sexual orientation and trans status. This is the first time the LGBT community will be counted in the census. If you’re LGBTQ and you need support filling the Census in, we’re here for you, book an appointment here.

By taking part you’ll help inform decisions about public spending and services that shape your community. Information you give informs where billions of pounds of funding is spent on things like healthcare, schools, public transport and even charity funding.

We already know that LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected by a range of inequalities. It’s not good enough that these inequalities are often overlooked due to a lack of evidence, or that LGBTQ people still find that their needs aren’t met by services.

By taking part in the census you are contributing to a stronger argument for the government and services of all kinds to consider the needs of LGBTQ people both locally and nationally. It also helps charities like ours prove that there is a community out there who need us.

The census is a part of history, and it’s important we show that LGBTQ people were here. Put simply, if we’re not counted, we don’t count.

Graphic advertising Census support. Peach background with an illustration of two men and a child standing holding hands.

We encourage you to fill the census in as accurately as you can, and we are here to help if you get stuck for any reason. That could be help with reading and writing, help with understanding the questions, or help with getting online. No matter where in the country you live, if you are LGBTQ you can book an appointment for support. This could be over the phone, online, or in person (subject to government guidelines), you can book an appointment here. Our volunteer advisors are trained and ready to help.

Every household will receive a letter with a code to fill in the census online, but if you’d rather fill it in just for you, or change the answers your household has given, we can help you to do this anonymously. This means anyone you share a household with cannot see your answers. This is helpful if you are not out to your family or the people you live with. You can trust the census to keep your data safe, no individual data is released for 100 years.

For too long the LGBTQ community has been a hidden population. The 2021 Census will enable us to finally get an accurate picture of the size and make-up of the LGBTQ population in Britain.

Get support with the Census here.

About the Census:

  • The census is a count of all people and households in Wales and England, which takes place every 10 years.
  • The census is the only exercise that provides a detailed snapshot of the whole population and is unique because everyone in the country answers the same questions about the same day.
  • The findings mean central and local government can use resources effectively for things such as housing, education, health and transport.
  • The first census was in 1801 and the most recent in 2011. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England Wales and the next one will happen on Sunday 21 March 2021
  • The Census Act 1920 makes it compulsory for everyone in England and Wales to take part in the census.
  • The 2021 census for England and Wales will be predominantly online for the first time.

 

To find out more visit census.gov.uk 

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