Fears a failure to engage communities in 2021 census will worsen inequalities

A failure to gather accurate census data leads to gaps in services and worsens inequalities, warns a researcher who is campaigning for better engagement.

Nura Aabe (pictured above) is urging people from underrepresented communities to respond to the major national survey that is taking place on March 21 this year, arguing this is the one chance in a decade to ensure accurate information is fed back into the system.

The PhD student, founder of charity Autism Independence and TEDx Bristol speaker also wants to see census teams doing all they can to engage with those who are traditionally “harder to reach”, which is often people in neighbourhoods who need services most.

The census is a survey run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that happens once every ten years in Britain and the information is used to shape the provision of transport, education, healthcare and other services.

The ONS has acknowledged previous disparities and says it is working to ensure they are not repeated, with 300 engagement staff now employed specifically to work with local communities.

Of these, there are two engagement managers and two community advisors working in the city. Bristol-based historian and broadcaster David Olusoga is also doing his part to engage younger audiences across the country with a free live lesson to be broadcast on February 4.

Nura says previous years have seen certain communities badly underrepresented in the published data and is worried that with the additional challenges of Covid-19 to contend with, the 2021 census will have the same problem.

“It’s so important to me that the community gets involved – this is the only opportunity to get it right this time,” says the Horfield-based mum.

“I know that last time when the data was published, a lot of people in the community were unhappy when it came out. If we don’t understand how we get our voices heard, then we cannot participate.

“It’s the same thing we see with coronavirus; people can’t access the information they need and that leads to barriers to services and support. That, in turn, is leading to inequality.”

Nura says it is vitally important the data gathered is truly representative of communities across Bristol and beyond.

She adds: “If we have the right numbers for these communities, we can make sure we get the services needed.”

The census is a picture of society across England and Wales – photo by Ellie Pipe

Mowleed Farah, an ONS community advisor is working particularly with Somali communities in Bristol and is feeling confident about the response to the 2021 census.

“We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from within our community to Census 2021,” says Mowleed.

“There is a full understanding of the importance of making sure everyone takes part, so that all communities, including Somali, have a voice. I feel so passionately about this and realise we need improved translation and medical services, especially in light of Covid which has hit our community very badly.”

Engagement manager Jason John says that in partnership with organisations, including Age UK, SARI, Bristol Refugee Forum and Wellspring Settlement, his teams have been able to reach out to all groups in the city.

“We are working with, we believe, all of the most important organisations within the city that exist to help communities; such as people who are in the asylum process, the homeless community, people who do not have access to the internet and many small groups or ethnic populations who may not otherwise be fully represented, such as the Roma, Kurdish , Traveller and van dwelling communities,” Jason told Bristol24/7.

“Covid is, of course, presenting major challenges but with the terrific support of organisations and vital help from the council, we believe that we are reaching as many people as possible this time round. This engagement work in addition to the changes in the wording of certain census questions about ethnicity will help Bristol receive the correct level of support we need to provide improved services over the coming years.

“Bristol will have hundreds of local people working to make this census as accessible and accurate as possible.”

Main photo by Ellie Pipe

Read more: Covid-19 highlighted ‘existing inequalities’ for Bristol’s Somali community