The 2019 Census Rehearsal in Carlisle is nearly upon us and deputy national statistician Iain Bell is gearing up for it by cycling the length and breadth of England and Wales.
The man in charge of delivering the census will be cycling between the four rehearsal areas this weekend. It’s a ride of some 500 miles, with a total climb higher than Mount Kilimanjaro.
Starting in Carlisle on Friday September 20, Iain will head south to Ceredigion, arriving in Aberystwyth on the Saturday, before finishing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets on Monday September 23, where he will visit one of the schools taking part in the census Let’s Count campaign.
And he will be doing the ride all in the name of local causes, raising money for the chosen charities of mayors and council leaders in the rehearsal areas. In Carlisle those charities – selected by mayor Cllr Marilyn Bowman – are CFM’s Cash for Kids, Guide Dogs UK and the Jigsaw Children’s Hospice.
Iain said: “All of us at the Office for National Statistics want to say a big thank you to the people in the rehearsal areas who are helping us make sure we deliver the best possible census.
“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the right places. What’s really spurring us on with this ride is raising money for local causes and giving back to your community.”
The rehearsal will enable the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to test some of the systems and processes it has put in place ahead of the digital-first 2021 Census. The census happens once every ten years and gives the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales.
People in each of the chosen areas will be asked to complete a questionnaire about those living in their household on 13 October 2019. The rehearsal will be online, with help for those who need it. Residents will be invited to take part later this month.
To find out more about who Iain is raising money for and sponsorship details, head to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cyclethecensusrehearsal
