RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: baytree1970 on Wednesday 02 October 24 10:35 BST (UK)
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Apparently the UK has taken censuses every 10 years and the latest was 2021. I've lived in England my whole life and I'm 53... I've never (to my knowledge) been asked to fill in a census.
Has anyone else completed a census? How was it conducted?
I don't understand ???
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Is it not the head of each household who completes the census return? Where you head of household for any of the census years?
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Usually, the household gets a form in the post, to be filled in by the householder (or another person).
These are then returned in a pre-paid envelope.
Same procedure in England (where I grew up) and the Isle of Man (where I live now).
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I've been the head of my own household as a tenant and then a home owner since the 1990s in England. I've never even seen a census form :-\
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The form will be addressed to "The owner or occupier".
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In case you would like to see what you missed, here's a link to the 2021 Census form for individuals within a household:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/census/censustransformationprogramme/questiondevelopment/census2021paperquestionnaires/englishindividual.pdf
and the household questionnaire is here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/census/censustransformationprogramme/questiondevelopment/census2021paperquestionnaires/householdenglandpdf.pdf
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Have you checked your local Electoral Register?
Just in case somebody has stolen your form and frauduently entered their details at your address.
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Have you checked your local Electoral Register?
Just in case somebody has stolen your form and frauduently entered their details at your address.
I don't follow your logic. The Electoral Register has nothing to do with the Census. They may may share a similar database of households as complied by the local authoruty, but whether or not the OP is on the Register of Electors is no proof that someone has stolen his identity.
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Fascinating, how come I've never seen one? Do I smell or something?!
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Baytree,
You should consider reporting the matter to the ONS because clearly their system is not foolproof, and they need to look into what went wrong in your case.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/aboutcensus/contactcensuscustomerservices
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Have you checked your local Electoral Register? Just in case somebody has stolen your form and frauduently entered their details at your address.
There may not have been any 'fraud', simply that some forms were never delivered by whatever method was used. Mail has been known to 'disappear'. I would assume that the same address list is followed as for local or national elections ? Unlikely that should happen more than once though ?
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Since I left home in 1989 I've been head of household at 5 different addresses in 91, 01, 11 and '21 and never seen a census form.
Maybe it always got binned with the rest of the junk mail addressed to the 'occupier'? Although I'm sure I would have paid attention if it had said 'census' on the envelope.
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If forms sent out for census are not returned there are normally follow up visits to try and get the completed form.
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I remember a lot of advertising for the 2011 (I think)- we received a paper copy (which I kept) and submitted the forms online instead. Pretty sure we submitted the 2021 online as well, asked a lot of questions about my employment.
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Do you live your life "off grid"? Census is always big news on TV, newspapers and internet. How could you not have been aware? Also, if the forms were delivered and not returned, there's personal follow-up at your door.
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Four censuses at different addresses and never received a form? This sounds very unlikely to me.
I remember my father delivering the forms to his designated area in 1981. He had a list of homes to deliver to, including a traveller site where a number of the occupants asked him to help with the forms because they were illiterate. If anyone failed to return the form he had to report it to his supervisor.
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The 2021 census was both paper and on-line. We completed the paper format but I do have copies of all pages on my computer. The form was addressed to The Householder and completion to take place on 21 March 2021 or as soon as possible after.
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Just to be clear, whilst it may seem 'unlikely' to some of you that I haven't had a form, received a visit from a civil servant, spotted the many adverts for the census, etc., this is indeed the case. I have not been living off grid in a mud hut in the Amazon, I do not shun email because I'm worred the CIA are tapping into my brain waves, I do not pull a camouflage blanket over my head every time someone knocks at the door... and I know how to open an envelope, have done so on several occasions.
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I have not been living off grid in a mud hut in the Amazon, I do not shun email because I'm worred the CIA are tapping into my brain waves, I do not pull a camouflage blanket over my head every time someone knocks at the door... and I know how to open an envelope, have done so on several occasions.
No doubt all true. But the point has been made that it seems unlikely that you would have been unaware of an imminent census. It therefore seems possible that - as you suggest - you treated it as junk mail, and received no follow-up for failure to submit. But with an online alternative, that may not always happen ?
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I completed mine online once we were able to do that. Kept the original mailing as my record for 2011 and 2021. I can't remember the previous two, but maybe because I wasn't into keeping the family records it didn't occur to me to do so.
The envelopes are large, clearly labelled census and the year. They would not be mistaken by anyone as junk mail.
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I dunno, I posted this as a curiosity, now my mind is properly boggled.
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You might not have a chance to complete one again:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/03/out-for-the-count-has-britain-already-conducted-its-last-census
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That'll mess up your future relatives trying to search for you ! ;D
Future Rootschat posts on 'where is my missing relative in the censuses' coming up. ;) ;D
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The census covers only those physically staying there overnight on that date, includes visitors regardless of their home address. Any family not home, should not be included. Ie on holiday or staying with Granny, in hospital etc.
I remember the census taker coming back to check everything was completed then it went into a sealed envelope.
2021 - March 21
2011 - March 27
2001 - April 29