X-Account-Key: account5 X-UIDL: UID155-1204581387 X-Mozilla-Status: 0001 X-Mozilla-Status2: 10000000 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.9 (2007-02-13) on neptune.vispa.net.uk X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.2 required=7.0 tests=AWL,HTML_FONT_BIG,HTML_MESSAGE autolearn=no version=3.1.9 Received: (qmail 3383 invoked from network); 14 Apr 2008 13:49:57 +0100 Received: from mail.humanism.org.uk (80.177.178.62) by long-range-remote-control.com with SMTP; 14 Apr 2008 13:49:24 +0100 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message Subject: Office of National Statistics Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:43:30 +0100 Message-ID: X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: Office of National Statistics Thread-Index: AcieLSRLNW24I+VwQNyNZ3AWr2+nmw== From: "Pepper Harow" To: "Pepper Harow" X-Antivirus: AVG for E-mail 7.5.519 [269.22.13/1376] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="=======AVGMAIL-480352F009B4=======" --=======AVGMAIL-480352F009B4======= Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C89E2D.2387BF78" ------_=_NextPart_001_01C89E2D.2387BF78 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear Local Development Volunteer, =20 At the BHA we are lobbying the Office of National Statistics to change the religion and belief question in the 2011 census as we believe that the 2001 question led to deeply flawed results (see below for discussion of this). The Office of National Statistics has written to the BHA telling us that they have done some testing of the question and that their results show that the 2001 question should be used again. We believe that this is a highly irresponsible decision, in light of how the 2001 data has been misused and the part it has played in advancing an unrepresentative agenda of religion-based work in so many areas. In order to strengthen our case, we need evidence so show the difficulties created by the 2001 census question.=20 =20 Therefore, the BHA would be very grateful if you could look out for information in your locality which justifies 'faith-based' practices by public bodies based on census results. Examples of this may include making funding decisions using this data or changes in service delivery; it may also include any use of the data which is unqualified e.g. in official documents which may say '70% of local residents are Christian' rather than '70% of local residents responded "Christian" when asked "What is your religion" in the 2001 census'. =20 If you have any pertinent examples, please let us know so that we can build up evidence showing the misuse of the questionable 2001 data. All information should be sent to Pepper Harow, Local Development Officer, local@humanism.org.uk=20 =20 The 2011 census=20 =20 Our objective is to ensure that the question or questions about religion in the 2011 census give an accurate picture of religious affiliation in the UK. The single question in the 2001 census used in England and Wales gave a far higher figure for 'Christian' than all other surveys: 71.74% in England and 71.90% in Wales, while the Scottish figures, where respondents were asked about the religion they were brought up in, as well as their current religion, showed significantly lower religious affiliation: 65.08%, in spite of far higher figures for Church attendance for example in Scotland. The corresponding figures for 'no religion' were: England 14.60%, Wales 18.63% and Scotland 27.55%. The figures were probably also distorted by the fact that the question appeared immediately after a series of questions on ethnicity, which may well have encouraged people to respond more on the basis of culture than actual beliefs or religious affiliation. =20 =20 Other surveys tend to give around 30 - 40% non-religious, rising to 60 - 65% for young people. =20 The census figures are, of course, used throughout Government as the basis for planning, resource allocation, etc, so it really is very important to make sure that the figures they produce next time are a true reflection of the situation in the UK.=20 =20 And speaking of accurate data... =20 Only 41 out of 153 volunteers have so far given their feedback about the project via the survey. It is very important that we get enough data to prove to future funders and politicians the importance of engaging humanists and non-religious people at local government level. If we do not get more people filling in the survey soon, we will not be able to use the survey in the evaluation of the project which will mean a weaker evidence base when arguing for more resources. It does not matter if you have not contacted your local authority, if you have been active in local affairs before the project or if you have not done anything for the project so far; it is still important that you fill in the survey!=20 =20 It is very easy to do, will only take five minutes and is available here = =20 Thanks to those who have filled it in already!=20 =20 =20 Pepper Harow Local Development Officer British Humanist Association 1, Gower Street, London WC1E 6HD =20 t: 020 7462 4992 f: 020 7079 3588 =20 For more information about humanism and the British Humanist Association go to www.humanism.org.uk =20 =20 The British Humanist Association is a charity, dependent on its members for financial support, to join click here or to donate money = without joining, click here =20 =20 E-MAIL DISCLAIMER=20 The information contained in this email, and in any attachments, is intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. You should therefore not copy or disclose its contents to anyone else, or take any action based up on it, if it is not addressed to you personally. Please contact the sender as soon as possible if this email has been received in error. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please let Pepper know at local@humanism.org.uk ------_=_NextPart_001_01C89E2D.2387BF78 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear Local = Development Volunteer,

 =

At the BHA we = are lobbying the Office of National Statistics to change the religion and = belief question in the 2011 census as we believe that the 2001 question led to deeply = flawed results (see below for discussion of this). The Office of = National Statistics has written to the BHA telling us that they have done some = testing of the question and that their results show that the 2001 question = should be used again. We believe that this is a highly irresponsible = decision, in light of how the 2001 data has been misused and the part it has played = in advancing an unrepresentative agenda of religion-based work in so many = areas. In order to strengthen our case, we need evidence so show the = difficulties created by the 2001 census question.

 =

Therefore, the = BHA would be very grateful if you could look out for information in your = locality which justifies ‘faith-based’ practices by public bodies = based on census results. Examples of this may include making funding = decisions using this data or changes in service delivery; it may also include = any use of the data which is unqualified e.g. in official documents which may = say ‘70% of local residents are Christian’ rather than = ‘70% of local residents responded “Christian” when asked = “What is your religion” in the 2001 = census’.

 =

If you have = any pertinent examples, please let us know so that we can build up = evidence showing the misuse of the questionable 2001 data.  All = information should be sent to Pepper Harow, Local Development Officer, local@humanism.org.uk

 =

= The 2011 census

  =

Our = objective is to ensure that the question or questions about religion in the 2011 = census give an accurate picture of religious affiliation in the UK.   The = single question in the 2001 census used in England and Wales gave a far = higher figure for ‘Christian’ than all other surveys: 71.74% in England and 71.90% in Wales, while the Scottish figures, where = respondents were asked about the religion they were brought up in, as well as = their current religion, showed significantly lower religious affiliation: = 65.08%, in spite of far higher figures for Church attendance for example in Scotland.   The corresponding figures for ‘no religion’ were: England 14.60%, Wales = 18.63% and Scotland 27.55%. The figures were probably also distorted by the fact that = the question appeared immediately after a series of questions on = ethnicity, which may well have encouraged people to respond more on the basis = of culture than actual beliefs or religious affiliation. =   

  =

Other = surveys tend to give around 30 – 40% non-religious, rising to 60 – 65% = for young people.

  =

The census = figures are, of course, used throughout Government as the basis for = planning, resource allocation, etc, so it really is very important to make = sure that the figures they produce next time are a true reflection of the = situation in the UK.

 =

And speaking of accurate = data...

 

Only 41 out of 153 volunteers have so far = given their feedback about the project via the survey. It is very important that we = get enough data to prove to future funders and politicians the importance of engaging humanists and non-religious people at local government = level.  If we do not get more people filling in the survey soon, we will not be = able to use the survey in the evaluation of the project which will mean a weaker = evidence base when arguing for more resources. It does not matter if you have not contacted your local authority, if you have been active in local affairs = before the project or if you have not done anything for the project so far; it = is still important that you fill in the survey! =

 

It is very easy to do, will only take five = minutes and is available here

 

Thanks to those who have filled it in already! =

 

 

Pepper Harow

Local Development Officer<= /b>

British Humanist Association

1, Gower Street, London WC1E = 6HD

 

t: 020 7462 4992

f: 020 7079 3588

 

For more information about humanism and the British Humanist Association go = to www.humanism.org.uk<= /p>

 

The British Humanist Association is a charity, dependent on its members for financial support, to join click here or to donate money without joining, click here<= /p>

 

E-MAIL DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this email, and in any attachments, is intended solely for = the person to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or = privileged information. You should therefore not copy or disclose its contents to = anyone else, or take any action based up on it, if it is not addressed to you personally. Please contact the sender as soon as possible if this email = has been received in error.

If you no longer wish to receive these = emails, please let Pepper know at local@humanism.org.uk

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