A COUNCIL has become the second in the country to support a Royal British Legion campaign to include questions about military services in the next national census.
North Yorkshire County Council said recording information about the size, location and profile of the Armed Forces community would enable it and other public services and charities to target their resources more effectively towards those in need.
It is estimated there are currently between 6.5 and 6.7 million members of the Armed Forces community, which includes serving personnel, veterans and their families, living in the UK and it is believed North Yorkshire may have a higher than average population.
It is also thought the areas surrounding Catterick Garrison, Ripon, and Leeming may have particularly high numbers of veterans.
Councillor Carl Les, the council’s leader, said the authority was standing by the commitment it made in 2012 when it signed the Armed Forces Covenant to support its Armed Forces community.
He said: “North Yorkshire is proud of the large Armed Forces community in the county – regular and reservist, serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families.
“North Yorkshire is home to the country’s biggest Army base at Catterick Garrison, with associated barracks at Ripon and Topcliffe; three RAF stations at Leeming, Linton on Ouse and Fylingdales; and the Army Foundation College near Harrogate.”
Colin Nesbitt, secretary of the legion’s 72-member Leyburn branch, said including basic details in the 2021 census would help the group to assist more people.
He said: “One of the problems we have is identifying people who have been in the Armed Forces who have fallen on hard times, as often the system doesn’t pick them up at all.
“Veterans often have particular problems which the general public wouldn’t normally have.”
Chris Simpkins, the legion’s director-general, said the census provided a breakdown on how many people cycle to work and the UK’s Jedi Knight population, but not how many veterans there were or where they lived.
He added: “It’s time to make the next census count for our Armed Forces community. We count on them, let’s count them in.”
For details, visit britishlegion.org.uk
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