Poppyscotland took its Count Them In campaign, which calls for recognition of the armed forces community in the Census, to Holyrood this week
A charity has called for statistics for the armed forces community to be included in Scotland’s Census.
Poppyscotland took its Count Them In campaign to Holyrood this week.
The organisation is highlighting its belief that there is a knowledge gap created by relevant questions not being included in the Census in reference to members of the armed forces.
The campaign seeks to identify where members of the armed forces community in Scotland live, and the issues they face, in order to ensure Poppyscotland and other charities can tailor services accordingly.
In Scotland, it is estimated that there are up to 545,000 in the armed forces community. Despite numerous attempts to survey this often hidden community, there remains no definitive and comprehensive data to corroborate this population estimate, or accurately map the profile, needs and location of members of the armed forces community.
Count Them In received cross-party support from MSPs at Holyrood on Thursday 28 June. Leading the call on the Garden Lobby steps were MSPs Maurice Corry and Jackie Baillie, who serve as convenor and deputy convenor of the Armed Forces and Veterans Cross-party Group.
Corry said: “More and more local authorities are now seeking to incorporate information on those in the armed vorces and veterans community in order to accurately deliver the services that they require, having served their country. I commend Poppyscotland’s campaign to have questions about the armed forces community included in the 2021 Census and fully believe such a campaign should be supported by all in order to enable the best services to be delivered to our veterans throughout the country.”
Poppyscotland chief executive Mark Bibbey said: “As a nation, we promise to provide lifelong care and support for those who serve our country. By including the armed forces community in the 2021 Census, we can help public bodies and charities deliver the best services they can for our Armed Forces community, when and where it is needed most.
“It is important to know where members of our armed forces community in Scotland live, and the issues they face, in order to tailor our services accordingly.”
