Need help filling in your form?
Staff from the Office for National Statistics will be at these events across the borough for you to get free, impartial and confidential assistance with completing your form. Please remember to bring it along.
| Date |
Venue |
| 21st March 9am-12noon |
Ince Life Centre, Manchester Road |
| 21st March 10am-1pm |
Wigan Library, College Avenue |
| 21st March 10am-12noon |
Compassion in Action Shop, Golborne town centre |
| 22nd March 9am-12noon |
Atherton Life Centre, Nelson Street off Bag Lane |
| 23rd March 9am-12noon |
Leigh Life Centre, town hall |
| 23rd March 3pm-8pm |
Carers Centre, Frederick Street, Hindley |
| 24th March 9am-12noon |
Marsh Green Life Centre, Harrow Road |
| 24th March 2pm-5pm |
Disability Partnership Offices, Leigh Sports Village |
| 25th March 11am-3pm |
Platt Bridge Life Centre, Rivington Avenue |
| 25th March 11am-3pm |
Leigh Library, Turnpike Centre |
| 28th March 9am-12noon |
Leigh Life Centre, town hall |
| 28th March 10am-1pm |
Wigan Library, College Avenue |
| 29th March 9am-12noon |
Marsh Green Life Centre, Harrow Road |
| 29th March 10am-1pm |
Wigan & Leigh College, Parsons Walk, Wigan |
| 29th March 2pm-5pm |
Wigan & Leigh College, Leigh Sports Village |
| 30th March 9am-12noon |
Atherton Life Centre, Nelson Street |
| 30th March 3pm-8pm |
Carers Centre, Frederick Street, Hindley |
| 31st March 9am-12noon |
Platt Bridge Life Centre, Rivington Avenue |
| 31st March 2pm-5pm |
Pensioners Link, 27 Charles Street, Leigh |
Officers from Wigan Council are involved in preparation for the 2011 census. The ten yearly survey of the population will this time include a number of innovations designed to improve census return rates in all areas:
- wide engagement in the community with the help of local authorities, representatives of target population and accessibility groups and a national publicity campaign
- post-out of all household questionnaires (around 25 million in England and Wales, with separate censuses for Scotland and Northern Ireland), based on a newly developed national address register
- online services: people will be able to complete and submit their answers online or fill in and return the paper questionnaire
- questionnaire tracking and targeted field follow-up: to identify and follow up households which have not returned their census forms.
What is the census?
A census is a count of the population. We have had one in the UK every ten years to find out more about who we are as a nation. We ask everyone to tell us a bit about themselves to help census users decide how best to plan and deliver the everyday services we all need – like housing, education, healthcare and transport.
The census will take place on 27 March 2011 and you will receive your questionnaire in the middle of March. You are required by law to complete the census.
When do I do it?
Census day is 27 March 2011 and you will receive your questionnaire in the middle of March. You will need to complete your questionnaire on or around this date so that we can take a snapshot of the population as it stands on one day – to give a consistent picture for the whole country.
The answers you give should be about the people living or staying with you on that day, even if you fill in your questionnaire before, on, or after 27 March 2011. You will need to complete it online, or fill in the paper questionnaire and send it back as soon as you have completed it.
If you have not returned your questionnaire by 6 April, a census collector will call after that date to offer any help you need.
How do I do it?
In March, you’ll get a census questionnaire in the post asking for information about your household and the people living or staying there on census day.
You will be able to answer most questions simply by ticking a box. If there isn’t a box that applies to you, you will be able to type or write your answer in the space provided.
You will be able to complete your questionnaire before, on, or soon after census day, 27 March. Just make sure your answers are about the people living or staying overnight in your household on that day.
You will be able to complete your questionnaire online or on paper:
- Online: You will be able to complete your questionnaire online from 4 March. Your paper questionnaire will have a code on the front. This will be your key to unlock your online questionnaire. Just go to Census 2011 (external link), ‘Click to fill it in’ and follow the on-screen instructions. When you’ve finished, click ‘Submit’ to send your information.
- On paper: If you don’t have access to the internet or prefer not to do it online, you will be able to fill in your answers by hand, sign the declaration on the front and post the questionnaire back in the prepaid envelope provided.
How can I get help?
The phone helpline number is 0300 0201 101
If you’re unsure about or have difficulty completing your census questionnaire, there will be lots of ways you can get help:
- Online help at Census 2011 (external link) in English and Welsh will guide you, whether or not you’re completing online. This service is available from 4 March 2011.
- Extra help (external link)will be available for anyone who needs it, including British Sign Language (BSL) video, audio and Braille guides, large print questionnaires, translation guides and an Easy Read booklet.
- The census telephone helpline will be open on 4 March 2011 (charged at local rate), providing help and advice in English, Welsh and over 50 other languages.
- England 0300 0201 101
- Wales 0300 0201 130
Census collectors will visit households which have not returned their questionnaire by 6 April. They can answer questions and help you fill it in.
