The Black Swan Arts Centre and the Heritage Museum will join more than a 100 buildings and landmarks across England and Wales by lighting up purple to celebrate the upcoming census and its importance to communities. 
The event is being organised by The Office for National Statistics (ONS) to raise awareness of census day on March 21st, a survey that happens every ten years and gives a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales.
Other iconic landmarks including the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, BT Tower in London and Blackpool Tower are signed up for the celebration, which will see them light up in the Census 2021 brand colour from today (Friday 19th March) through to Sunday 21st March.
The census helps inform the provision of public services throughout the UK, such as determining the appropriate number of school places and hospital beds that are needed to properly serve their communities.
Pete Benton, ONS Director of Census Operations, said, “The census is such an important undertaking that helps inform the vital services we all rely on every single day within our communities.
“We wanted to shine a (purple!) light on the buildings and landmarks that matter most to their local areas, highlighting the importance of the census in helping shape the communities we live in.
“We’re thrilled with all the support we have received so far and would like to thank Frome for their participation. Now is the time for everyone to complete their census and be part of history”
The Black Swan Arts Centre and the Heritage Museum in Frome will light up purple today (19th March) at 20:21, and will and keep their buildings illuminated, in the evenings, until 21st March.
Every household in England and Wales will now be receiving their census letters with unique access codes enabling them to fill in their census online.
Census day is 21st March, but you can fill yours in as soon as you receive your letter if you’re confident there will be no change in who usually lives in your household. Papers forms are available for those who need it, plus a range of other support.
If you need any help, or to request a paper form, you can visit the website www.census.gov.uk
The census support centre (freephone 0800 141 2021 in England and 0800 169 2021 in Wales) is available if you can’t find the help you need online.
For further information on Census 2021, visit: https://census.gov.uk/
