Get ready for Census 2021!

Households across Reading 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.

It will be the first time the census has been 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.

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.

Supporting the census in Reading

Reading Voluntary Action is pleased to be supporting the census by participating in the Census Support Service scheme. Our team of advisers will be helping householders to fill in their online forms. The service will initially be by telephone appointment, and we hope to be able to start a Covid-safe service for visitors later if regulations permit. See rva.org.uk/census for more details. Communicare are also supporting the census in Reading

Further information

For more information, visit census.gov.uk.

David Neale

David runs the Get Online Reading project, which uses a team of volunteers to promote digital inclusion around the town and help local people make better use of the internet. The Get Online team is based at Reading Central Library and does outreach sessions at other libraries and community venues around Reading. David also co-developed the RVA website.