Pensioners back census drive
Published 20 December 2010
On Monday 20 December 2010 pensioners in Southwark began work with Southwark Council's census team in the drive to ensure that everyone takes part in next year's census on 27 March 2011.
The population counted during the census indicates how councils should design their services. It is extremely important that everyone completes the census to ensure that funding received for the council, the NHS, police and other public
services is the correct amount for the population.
The 2001 Census counted Southwark's population at 256,700. It is estimated this missed approximately 9,300 people.
Based on London Councils figures on the current way the government funds councils, if every pensioner in the borough is counted in the census that could represent as much as £13m of funding for the council.
Charlie Cherril, Chair of Southwark Pensioners Forum, is happy to lend his support to the effort. He said: "Older people must become active and get their voice heard. And because we're facing major cuts, pensioners must become active against them. Census is one way to do it."
The council census team has been holding focus groups with older people in a bid to better understand these sections of the community, including those people whose first language is not English. Volunteer census champions, young volunteers and council officers have been talking with older people about the importance of completing the census and how the funding is used within the borough.
Southwark Councillor Richard Livingstone, Council cabinet member for resources, said: "We've got to make the census count, and it's great that pensioners are backing our campaign. They play such an important role in the community.
"Given the massive cuts that government wants to make to our budget in the future, we're determined to make sure that we maximise our grant following next year's census."
Southwark Council is working hard alongside The Office for National Statistics (ONS) to encourage as many residents as possible to complete the census.
Did you know fire brigades and the police use census data to help communities, by putting fire alarms and crime prevention measures in specific areas? Water companies use the census data to plan the pipes for clean and wastewater - to make sure there's enough for everyone. The census captures vital information to plan and prepare for the future.
To find out more about the census and how it affects us all visit http://www.census.gov.uk/
