HANACS’ UKNFS Chapter is delighted to share that further to our since 2018 engagement with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) since 2018 has provided crucial support to the ONS for its engagement with our UK Nepali and Gurkha community in regard to participation in Census 2021. Through this news article we share news of the final stage of this important longstanding collaboration — use of Census 2021 data to assist planning of services for all sections of our Nepali (and other ethnic minority communities).
Context:
At the time of the Census we also provided direct guidance support to the ONS in many ways, especially through a UKNFS review and analysis of the Census 2021 form in regard to all sections of the UK and Gurkha community. Context links:
- https://hanacs.org/census-2021-data-analysis-consultation-uknfs-participation-in-support-to-our-uk-nepali-community-ons-and-government-departments-agencies/
- https://hanacs.org/uknfs-census-2021-report-provided-to-the-office-of-national-statistics-ons-national-statistician-reply-letter-major-breakthrough-for-our-uk-nepali-and-nepali-gurkha-community/
- https://uknfs.org/census-2021-uknfs-engagement-with-guidance-to-the-ons-and-assistance-to-and-for-our-uk-nepali-community-regarding-need-to-know-information-for-taking-part-in-the-census/
- https://uknfs.org/uk-nepali-community-census-entry-nrna-uk-led-uknfs-facilitated-petition-delegation-to-prime-minister-10-downing-street/
- https://ekantipur.com/diaspora/2018/12/06/154409017181612392.html
- https://uknfs.org/aldershot-witnesses-historic-meeting-of-uk-nepali-community-organisation-leads-with-senior-officer-of-the-uk-census/
The key interest of the UKNFS has always been what use of Census 2021 data can be made equally for the benefit of both all sections of the UK Nepali community (including sub-groups, and especially community members who have settled in the UK in the past 5-10 years and which face especially high support needs), AND public services providers that use ONS Census data to plan services for minority communities of all kinds, such as our UK Nepali one.
Consequently HANAC’s UKNFS Chapter through organisation lead, HANACS/UKNFS CEO executive director Alan Mercel-Sanca, and HANACS/UKNFS director Gyan Prasad Gurung (Nepalese Association of Wiltshire [NAW] President) arranged a joint UKNFS and NAW Census data use information event with the ONS Census data use national leads team, at the Swindon Borough Council Council Chamber, on the afternoon of the 19th November. Details are provided below.
Programme:
Start time: 12:00. End time: 15:00
Talks and presentations by the ONS Team (Ms Emily Stidston, NAW Lead and UKNFS Director, Gyan Prasad Gurung, and Alan Mercel-Sanca (UKNFS Executive Director & CEO)
Questions and Answers
Venue: Council Chamber, Swindon Borough Council, Civic Offices, Euclid St, Swindon SN1 2JH
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VIP and chief guests Attendees:
Nepali and broader Swindon area ethnic minority communities organisations and their senior representatives included but were not limited to:
- Tamu Dhee Samaj
- Thakuri Samaj UK
- Tamu Pye Lhu Sangh UK
- Nepalese Chefs Association UK
- Swindon Hindu Temple
- Gurung Society of Swindon
- Kirat Yakthung Chumlung UK Swindon
The Borough of Swindon was represented by Cllr Abdul Amin, the Mayor of Swindon—and Cllr Junab Ali, Cllr Bazil Solomon, Cllr Suresh Gattapur, Cllr Gary Sumner, and Cllr Curtis Flux. Swindon Council officials were also represented, as were representatives from Wiltshire Police and other public service organisations, including but not limited to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Brigade.
In addition, the Embassy of Nepal was represented by Ram Babu Nepal, and also attending were Major Sanita Pun (MBE), Mr Riyad Mustafa, Mr Hari Limbu Haribkhata, Mr JB Gurung, , and Mr Bigyan Sharma, and other dignitaries.
The outcome of this ground-breaking event was that the local council, with various public service organisations became primed, enthusiastically, to be in readiness to engage through the UKNFS with the NAW in regard to discussing use of the relevant tranches of Census 2021 data use to with our Nepali and other ethnic minority communities, collaborate on planning for new and enhanced existing services based on the ONS data currently and in the near future being released. Below we provide some data release categories:
Topic Summary Releases:
- Demography & migration. 02/11/22 – published
- UK armed forces veterans. 10/11/22 – published
- Ethnicity, identity, language & religion (EILR). 29/11/22 – confirmed
- Labour market & travel to work. 08/12/22 – confirmed
- Housing. 05/01/23 – provisional
- Sexual orientation & gender identity (SOGI). 06/01/23 – provisional
- Education. 10/01/23 – provisional
- Health, disability & unpaid care. 19/01/23 – provisional
We are very pleased to provide this post-event thank you message below kindly provided by Ms Emily Stidston, ONS Community Outreach & Engagement Manager, following the very successful UKNFS with NAW event last Saturday — an event that will see us working with services provides to support creation and delivery of important and much needed services, including to our Gurkha community, where Census data is crucially important.
Alan Mercel-Sanca and Gyan Prasad Gurung
‘Dear All,
Myself and my colleagues Emily Knipe and Gary Gibson, want to thank you for attending our presentation on Census 2021 data on 19th Nov 2022. I’d also like to take the time to thank Gyan Gurung and Alan Mercel-Sanca from the Swindon Nepali Community and UKNFS respectively – thank you for arranging the event and for having us along to speak. ,,,
There’s lots more to come from Census 2021 and we are really keen to help you use and understand the data.
Many thanks once again,
Emily
Emily Stidston | Community Outreach & Engagement Manager | (she/her) (why have I put this?) | Outreach & Engagement Team | Communications Division | Office for National Statistics | Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol