21.02.2011 The 2011 Census: Painting Scotland’s Future
‘Fill in the blanks and help shape Scotland’s future’ – that’s the message of a campaign launched today (Monday, 21 February) to highlight Scotland’s biggest population survey, the 2011 Census.
The census takes place on Sunday, March 27, and the ‘Painting by Numbers’ themed campaign aims to make sure everyone is counted.
The census campaign launch saw children from Edinburgh’s Elsie Inglis Nursery and residents of neighbouring Elsie Inglis Nursing Home brush up on their artistic skills by filling in a large census date poster. 
The Registrar General for Scotland, Duncan Macniven, is responsible for organising the census. He said:
“Scotland’s Census includes everyone. The answers people give inform future decisions about how services that we all need should be targeted.
“The census takes place just once every ten years; so we need to inform people what the census is and why it matters. For many young people - and new communities that have made Scotland their home - 2011 will be the first time that they have been responsible for filling in a census questionnaire.
“The results of the census will help provide the evidence of what Scotland and its people need from the UK Treasury, the Scottish Government and local authorities. It is a vital part of securing funds and allocating them fairly, and planning services for us all.
“Most of the census questions are multiple choice and can be answered by simply ticking a box. It takes about 10 minutes to complete per person, but its effects will last for a decade.
“The ‘Painting by Numbers’ campaign demonstrates that we are all responsible for filling in the blanks to make up a complete picture of Scotland and its communities. The campaign features people and services, such as
health, education and transport because the census results will shape these services and the future for us all.”
Painting by Numbers combines the talents of three Scottish artists: illustrator Alan McGowan, animator Garry Marshall and musician James Grant. Designed by The Gate, it has four phases – informing people about the census, encouraging and motivating them to take part and then highlighting that people who try to avoid taking part may be fined up to £1,000.
Personal census details are safeguarded by law and kept confidential for 100 years. Mr Macniven will make the 1911 Census records available on 5 April this year, just after the 100 year period expires.
The Elsie Inglis building was chosen as the launch venue for the 2011 Census because, having been a maternity hospital and now a nursery and nursing home, it highlights that the census represents all of us at each stage of our lives – no matter how long we have lived in Scotland. Dr Elsie Inglis helped save the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers during the First World War and Winston Churchill said of her and her nurses that "they will shine in history". Dr Inglis appears on the 1891 Census living at 16 Chalmers Street in the parish of St Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh.
Find out more: read the Census Information Leaflet (PDF 797KB)
See and listen to our latest television and radio adverts.
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