Completing the 2011 Census questionnaire is required by law and anyone who does not could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.

The 2011 Census takes place in England and Wales on 27 March 2011. A census is a count of a population and one has been held in England and Wales every 10 years since 1801 (except in 1941 during World War II). The information that the census provides describes the make-up of the population, helping central and local government to understand the needs of local communities, and to plan and prioritise resources such as housing, education, health and transport services for years to come. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for running the census in England and Wales and for producing accurate statistics that are vital for government, business, community groups, in fact everyone.

Further information and guidance has been provided, with specific guides created for care providers to give the information and tools they may need to help others complete their census questionnaire.

Completing the 2011 Census questionnaire is required by law and anyone who does not could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.

The census gathers information to describe and understand the characteristics of the population so that central and local government are able to plan services such as housing, education, healthcare and transport services for years to come.

The 2011 Census is vital in helping to describe today’s complex, diverse society, to understand people’s needs for public services and to plan how these will be delivered at national, regional and local levels over the next ten years.

There will be lots of help available from 4 March 2011, ready for when your questionnaire arrives on or after 7 March 2011. Online help will be at www.census.gov.uk, the same site as the secure online questionnaire. You will also be able to download guidance about the questions www.census.gov.uk

Some people in the community may face specific challenges such as language, literacy, sight, hearing or other factors that make it difficult for them to complete their census questionnaires independently. Therefore specific guides have been created for care providers to give the information and tools they may need to help others complete their census questionnaire.

A range of options is available to provide assistance, including online questionnaire completion and online help, a telephone helpline, language support and face-to-face guidance from field staff responding to requests for extra assistance.

• 2011 Census general information
• Carer’s, helper’s and supporter’s guide
• Guide for care support workers working in people’s own homes or day centres
• Guide for care support workers working in residential homes
• Guide for frontline public service staff
• Handy checklist
• Guide for people caring for, helping or supporting someone in their own home