The census is a compulsory survey that happens every 10 years and provides a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for making the survey as easy as possible for everyone to join in and wants to understand the needs of communities and organisations.

Local councils, charities and many other organisations use census information to decide how to spend billions of pounds on services every year. This includes spending on transport, education and healthcare. To make sure this money is spent where it’s most needed, it’s important that the census counts everyone.

By taking part, you can help inform decisions about services that shape your community, so it’s important that you fill in your census questionnaire because it helps to give the most detailed information we have about our society. Without the information you share, it’d be more difficult to understand our community’s needs and plan and fund public services. Not only do councils and the NHS use this data but also charities when they need evidence and data for funding applications.

Census Day is on Sunday 21 March and ahead of that, the Office for National Statistics will send you a letter in the post with an access code and instructions. You can do your census online as soon as you get yours. If your household circumstances change on Census Day, you can let the ONS know.

The ONS aim to make things as easy as possible for everyone.You can request support for yourself, or someone else, including guidance and help in many languages and formats, a paper version of the questionnaire, if you prefer, and also accessible census guidance, for example, in braille. You can find more about the census here.