The Jewish Chronicle

Census 2021: your chance to help plan the future of our community

March 21 is census day. It’s vital we all take part

- (available in English or Welsh) To find out more, go to

VTHE CENSUS IS an important survey that happens once every ten years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. By taking part, you’ll be helping inform decisions about services you use in your community.

Services such as transport, education and healthcare in our local areas are informed by census informatio­n. From councils planning school places, building doctors’ surgeries and transport routes, to charities seeking funding, census informatio­n is at the heart of the decisions made across England and Wales.

Without the census — and without providing informatio­n about ourselves, our households and our homes — it’d be much more difficult to plan services across England and Wales. That’s why it’s so important to take part.

The Jewish Policy Research Institute (JPR) uses informatio­n found in the census to build a picture of the UK’s Jewish community. That picture can have a big impact on the support and services the community receives.

The JPR shines a light on modern Jewish communitie­s in the UK and across Europe. It aims to find out what Jewish communitie­s feel, think and do, to help organisati­ons support them.

The JPR uses census informatio­n to find out about Jewish life in England and Wales. They look at things like population size, age range, household size and health. The institute uses the informatio­n to put together reports that help community leaders and organisati­ons better understand: the issues Jewish people face in which areas Jewish life is expanding or contractin­g how well Jewish people are integrated into life in England and Wales

The JPR’s reports are particular­ly important to Jewish charities. Census informatio­n helps plan how to support those most in need. For example, elderly care charities use the informatio­n to plan how many care home places will be needed in the future. Children’s charities use the informatio­n to see how many Jewish children are living with learning disabiliti­es in different parts of England and Wales. More widely, census informatio­n helps the JPR to work out what welfare services Jewish people need and where. It will then compare this with what’s currently available. Informatio­n on religion from Census 2021 will allow the JPR to see Jewish population trends over the first two decades of the 21st century more accurately than ever.

Dr Jonathan Boyd (left), executive director of the JPR, says: “Few people today understand or appreciate just how important the census is. But there is nothing like it. Its extraordin­ary detail allows us to see and understand the UK’s entirely unique ways. It is, without question, the most important research exercise in the UK.”

PLAY YOUR PART

Census 2021 will be mainly online. However, if you do not have access to a computer/the internet, you can request a paper questionna­ire or complete your census by phone (see contact informatio­n, right).

The census is available in 49 languages and in accessible formats.

Additional support is available online, on the phone and in person to ensure you can read, understand and complete the census.

TELEPHONE FREE 0800 141 2021

IN WALES, TELEPHONE FREE 0800 169 2021

OTHER LANGUAGES Free language helpline 0800 587 2021

TEXT RELAY

Relay UK users dial 18001 followed by the phone number you need. Text message (SMS)

Text: 86677

CENSUS DAY IS MARCH 21 BUT YOU CAN FILL IN YOURS AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR CODE

www.census.gov.uk/about-the-census

PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHI­P WITH THE OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

 ??  ?? The census builds a picture of England and Wales’ population size, age range and health
The census builds a picture of England and Wales’ population size, age range and health
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