CEREDIGION is one of four regions in England and Wales chosen by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to take part in the census rehearsal on Sunday, October 13, 2019.

For the first time ever, the 2021 census is designed to be answered primarily online. Because of this, this year’s rehearsal is particularly important as it gives the ONS the chance to test out their new systems and processes to make sure that everything works as it should.

Later this year, everyone who lives in Ceredigion will be asked to complete a questionnaire about the people in their household as on October 13, 2019.

The rehearsal will be ‘digital first’, like the 2021 Census. Help will be available for people who find completing the online form difficult, and paper forms will be supplied to those people who really need them.

Ceredigion Council leader Ellen ap Gwynn said: “The information gathered during a census is very important to all of us because it helps us to understand our population and guides our planning for the whole range of public services, such as the number of school places needed and the provision of housing, hospital and GP services and social care in local areas.

“A sample of primary schools across Ceredigion who have already been contacted by the ONS are being provided with educational resource packs to inform children about the census rehearsal.

“In 2021, secondary schools in Ceredigion will also be provided with information packs but they won’t be asked to take part in the rehearsal process this year.”

Ceredigion was chosen for the rehearsal because it has a high proportion of Welsh speakers and includes a large rural area with varying internet coverage. Tower Hamlets and Hackney in London and Carlisle in Cumbria will also be taking part.

Director of ONS census operations, Pete Benton, said: “As the census only takes place every 10 years, it is important we hold an operational rehearsal to ensure that all our processes run smoothly. The people who take part will all be helping to ensure the overall success of the 2021 census.”

More information is available at ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/2019rehearsal