In the discussion currently hitting the media about the imminent census, Pagans, along with others such as the Jedi Knights, are being used by the anti-camp; apparently to show what a wastefully expensive exercise the census is.

But Pagans are a serious and growing religious group and take issue with our beliefs being used in such a tawdry and cavalier fashion.

The facts are these. The last census in 2001 was the first to ask for religious affiliation. There were tick boxes for the major religions and a space for 'other'. We know that many Pagans did not fill in the box in 2001 because they felt, understandably, that their spiritual beliefs were no business of the state. But unprompted, over 42,000 Pagans did declare themselves as such, to become the seventh largest religious group in the UK.

For this census, Pagans asked the Office for National Statistics for our own tick box but were refused.

This census will be the last for some time. The Government has no plans to continue the programme. So this time, the Pagan Federation is asking all Pagans to put aside their reservations and to put 'Pagan' in that box. As Pagans, we want to let the country know how many of us there are and to ensure we have the same recognition and rights as other religious groups.

So Pagans will be standing up to be counted, coming out of the broom closet, and being proud to be Pagan on Census Day.

For more information about the Award or about Paganism, contact Chris Crowley, President, on: 07985 733 441.

Notes for Editors:

1. In the 2001 census, 42,262 people from England, Scotland and Wales declared themselves Pagans - the 7^th largest religious affiliation. According to leading historian Professor Ronald Hutton who has studied the growth of Paganism in the UK, these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg. His 2001 research indicated the number of UK Pagans was around 250,000.

2. In 2011, the Pagan Federation celebrates its 40^th year of representing the UK Pagan community.