This month every household in the country will be contacted about Scotland’s Census. This is the once-a-decade count of the population of Scotland, collecting information about where you stay and the people who stay there, including which religion you belong to. The information you provide in the census, which may be completed online or by post, will help make decisions about how public money will be spent on schools, healthcare, roads and other important services in your local community. It is the go-to data source for social researchers in developing policy and is, therefore, very important. The Scottish Bishops encourage you to complete the census, providing accurate information about yourselves and your households, including your religious affiliation. We invite you to encourage family and friends to complete the census. Please also try to support anyone who might have difficulty either accessing or completing the census to accurately complete the census. Your parishes may wish to consider identifying parishioners who might be able to offer this support. The deadline for completion of the census is 20 March 2022. You can find out more here: Scotland's Census 2022 | Scotland's Census (scotlandscensus.gov.uk) You can access resources to help publicise the Census here (includes accessible formats and translations e.g. Polish): Stakeholder promotional materials | Scotland's Census (scotlandscensus.gov.uk)

There will be Part Two training sessions taking place on: Wednesday 23rd February at 10.30am in the parish hall at St. Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley Tuesday 1st March at 7pm in the parish hall at St. John’s, Barrhead This training session is for Church volunteers who have previously attended Safeguarding Training Part One, or Safeguarding Training Level One, more than eighteen months ago. If you would like to register for one of these sessions, please visit Eventbrite and search for Diocese of Paisley, Safeguarding Training, or visit the following https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/266920525477