It’s not too late to fill in your census! Elaine Thornton is the engagement manager for West Leeds and is working hard to encourage everyone to complete the census. The Armley Community Hub has been providing telephone help but is now offering face to face appointments and is handy for many local areas.
Here’s Elaine’s article on why it’s important to fill in the census and where you can get help if you need it…
Avoid getting a knock at the door from a field officer – fill in your census!
Millions of households across England and Wales have already made sure they count when it comes to planning and provision of the key services we all rely upon, like GP surgeries, school places and hospital beds, by filling out their online census form.
However, it is vital everyone who hasn’t yet responded does so as soon as possible now Census Day, March 21, has been and gone.
Field officers are already out and about and will visit households who have not submitted their census. Their role is to give help and encouragement to those who have not already completed their census questionnaire and direct them to the support services they need. The operation will reach its peak next week so more officers will be knocking at doors where our records show there has been no response.
Field staff will carry ID to show they are genuinely working on the census. They never need to enter people’s homes, they will always be socially distanced, equipped with PPE and work in line with all government guidance.
They work from 9am – 8pm and no later! They will never ask for any payment or for anyone to pay a fine. They are not allowed to ask to see personal documents, eg pay slips, bank details, NI number or passport.
To achieve the most accurate picture of the whole population, we need everyone to fill in their questionnaire. By doing so you will be helping shape the local services in your community – the bus routes, school places, the hospital beds.
You can do it easily online, but for those who want help, we have a range of census support centres open across Leeds, and paper forms are available for those who need them.
The Armley Community Hub is a local Census Support Centre:
2 Stocks Hill,
Armley,
LS12 1UQ
Tel 0113 3785005
It is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm and offers face to face and telephone support. It closes 4 May 2021.
People with second homes, if you’ve not been to your caravan or holiday let because of lockdown, you still need to complete a census for all your properties – even if there’s no-one there – so that we get an accurate picture of the entire housing stock.
All students need to be included in the census too. They should complete it for their usual term-time address. If they’re currently living at their home address, they will need to be included in the census for that household too.
All households will have been sent a letter in the post in early March with instructions for taking part.
If you have lost the letter or have a second address you have not visited, go to census.gov.uk to request an online completion code for your address via SMS text message.
You’ll find all the help you need online, or you can visit one of our local census support centres where you can get help to fill out your form.