Census Campaign

You've done it!

The Leicester Census Campaign is Fully Funded!

Many Thanks to all who contributed to put 'For God's Sake Say So' ads on Leicester's buses and pay for several thousand campaign leaflets. Our fund has now closed, although the BHA still needs more for the National Census Campaign.

How to Help
Tick "No Religion"
Donate: National Census Campaign
Take the Pledge
Inform yourself
Share the idea

What is it all about?

If you live in the UK, someone in your household will have to complete a census form during March 2011. Among other things, census data is used by government and religious organisations to justify their privileges and funding.

The Census cuts non-religious people in half!

The census data on religion produced by the 2001 census gave a wholly misleading picture of the religiosity of the UK, cutting the number of non-religious people in half.

Why this matters

If you say you’re religious on the census and don’t really mean it, then you are treated by some sections of the media, churches, and even government policymakers as if you are a fully-fledged believer. Under its 'Big Society' policy, the government will try to use census figures to justify education, welfare, health and social services being provided by churches and religious charities, replacing secular (i.e. impartial) state and local authority provision.
The results will be used by the state, quangos, churches and others for ten years.

A local campaign

Leicester Secular Society has raised over £1000 towards a bus advertising campaign. Originally this was to put some There's Probably No God posters on the buses. However, as the Census will take place on 27 March 2011, our recent AGM agreed support for the BHA campaign on the census should be a priority.

See the BBC News feature on our campaign.

The British Humanist Associtation has initiated this campaign nationally. However, Leicester Secular Society has commissioned some local advertisements as you can see above, using a slogan that was banned on the trains but allowed in London's busy Oxford Street. See our

What you can do

The short answer is simple. If you’re not religious, then answer "No Religion" to the optional question on your census form.

Talk to your colleagues and organisations.

You can follow the links to the BHA campaign site for posters and campaign material, and of course to DONATE to the National appeal (census-campaign.org.uk).

Sign the Sign the pledge.

Add your comment to our Blog.

The Surveys

According to the 2010 British Social Attitudes Survey, those who profess no-religion as an identity have risen from 31% to 43% between 1983 and 2008. Yet the 2001 census data suggests that this figure is only 15%. The census also concluded that there were more Jedis than Jews!

According to the 2010 British Social Attitudes Survey, those who profess no-religion as an identity have risen from 31% to 43% between 1983 and 2008. Yet the 2001 census data suggests that this figure is only 15%. The census also concluded that there were more Jedis than Jews!

• People professing no-religion up from 31% to 43% between 1983 and 2008.
• 59% did not describe themselves as religious.
• 66% 'Christian' in 1983 down to 50% in 2008.
• 62% never attend a religious service. Only 8% attend a weekly church service.

Official 2011 Census website.