Households across Calderdale will soon be asked to take part in the nationwide survey of housing and the population – with both online and paper versions available.
It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941, but this is the first time digital forms have been offered.
Information from the digital-first census will help decide how services are planned and funded in your local area. This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, housing or new bus routes.
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.
Without robust data on the size of the population at a national and local level, decision-makers are operating in a vacuum, unaware of the extent and nature of disadvantage which communities may be experiencing in terms of health, educational outcomes, employment and housing.
Households will receive a letter with a unique access code in the post, allowing them to complete their questionnaire online.
Paper questionnaires will be available on request.
Census day is 21st March.
For more information and to request a paper questionnaire, visit census.gov.uk.