A HAGLEY man is one of just 22 people in the country to be honoured with a Census 2021 purple plaque for services to his local community and offering fertility and surrogacy support for the LGBTQ+ communities.
Michael Johnson-Ellis is the co-founder The Modern Family Show, the only UK LGBTQ Family Building event, My Surrogacy Journey, the UK’s latest not for profit surrogacy organisation and TwoDads UK which positively promotes same sex families and acts as a point of information for Intended Fathers.
The purple plaques have been awarded to community heroes ahead of Census Day 2021 coming up.
They are aimed at celebrating ordinary people for extraordinary contributions they have made and to highlight how census data helps build better communities.
Hundreds of nominations were sent in across England and Wales and entries were judged by a panel of noteworthy community champions, led by actress and presenter Joanna Page.
Michael said: “I am truly grateful to have received the Census 2021 Community Hero Award, amongst the hundreds of entries that were submitted. “Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is a great passion of mine, and I am so thrilled to have been selected for this award.”
Ms Page added she was honoured to have been a judge and it was a pleasure to read all the amazing citations.
“In what has been a difficult year for so many of us, this was a great opportunity to say thank you to the people who go above and beyond to serve their local community.”
ONS deputy national statistician Iain Bell said the number of entries was testament to how many incredible people were doing amazing things and how a difficult year had brought out the best in everyone.
“We can all do something, however big or small, to help those around us.”
The census, taking place on March 21, will shed light on the needs of different groups and communities and the inequalities people are experiencing.
It will also ensure the big decisions facing the country following the pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information possible.
People can fill out the census online or in paper form.
Households should have now received information via the post on the upcoming census and how to complete it online.
Visit census.gov.uk/census-2021-heroes/ for more on the awards.
