2011 Census campaign targets students

To remove any potential doubts about where students should complete their census questionnaire this coming March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today unveils details of a dedicated 2011 Census student outreach programme that aims to ensure every student across England and Wales is accurately represented in the next census in March.

The student initiatives, which will run across England and Wales, have been endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS). The initiatives include the recruitment of student ambassadors, census-based degree projects, a dedicated student website and exclusive student competitions.

Students often live between 'home' and term-time accommodation, which means that there can be confusion about where to complete census questionnaires. The new outreach programme for 2011 helps to ensure that students know what to do and when.

2011 Census - the student campaign:

• Census student ambassadors have been recruited at universities across
  England and Wales to help raise awareness of the census among student groups and provide on-campus support.
• The ONS has engaged with university course leaders to run census-based work.
  projects looking at various aspects of the census -  including marketing, design and film -  with student work being submitted for a chance to win internships at top London communications agencies.
• A dedicated student area has been created as part of the census website
  which offers students help and support filling in their census questionnaires and acts as an information hub for all student outreach activities - www.census.gov.uk/2011students.

Glen Watson, ONS Census Director, commented: "We want students to get involved and spread the word, whether that is through taking part in competitions, joining one of our census teams or building the census into their course.

"It's a simple message, but an important one.  By completing the census questionnaire at their term time address, students can make a huge difference to how public services are planned and delivered across the nation."

A number of competitions exclusively for students will also be launching next month to raise awareness of the 2011 Census among student groups.

• Snapshot is a photography competition to capture a 'snapshot' of university life, which is running in partnership with the NUS.
• Origami Masterclasses is an online competition that will encourage students to get involved in helping tomorrow take shape by creating origami, a theme which also runs through the 2011 Census advertising campaign

Students have also been invited to apply for temporary positions created to help carry out the 2011 Census.  There are a range of full and part-time roles available as part of the 35,000 jobs created for the 2011 Census.