As you may be aware, the Office for National Statistics is conducting a national Census on 27th March 2011. (This exercise is crucial because it allows anybody to understand the various communities who live in England and Wales.) This will show us not only the size of those communities but where they are located, their housing and economic situation. This information can then be used, by those people who plan and provide the many services that all these communities need, to target the most critical areas.)

Whether it is your children’s school, your GP’s surgery or the clean waste water that you use, all of these services are planned and delivered using the census data. Supermarket groups use census data to decide where to place their stores and how many car parking spaces they need. Community groups looking for funding  base their community size on Census data.

The Census data is totally confidential for 100 years with no Government department, council or company getting access to any personal data.

Over 600 Census collectors are needed in Birmingham to provide help on the doorstep for people who are having difficulties completing the questionnaire or who have not yet done so. About 15 of these will be based in Birchfield.

These jobs range from 15 to 37 hours per week, mainly evening and weekend working and will last for either 5 or 7 weeks starting at the end of March. Applications are now being taken.

All the details of these jobs can be found on http://www.censusjobs.co.uk

Census jobs offer people a unique chance to get involved in a national project that has the potential to deliver real benefits to them and their local community. ONS are looking to find individuals who can spare some time to help gather the information we need in Birchfield and earn some extra money while helping to change things for the better.

Further details can be found at http://www.census.gov.uk