Grime star urges young people to take part in census 2011.

PLAISTOW grime star Ghetts has issued a rallying call for young people to stand up and be counted by taking part in next year’s census.

The Newham artist launched the 2011 census campaign at the Brady Arts Centre in Whitechapel, where he met with youngsters attending a rap workshop.

Ghetts later performed his new track, Invisible, which backs the campaign by making the point that by filling in and returning their census forms young people can let government know where community services, such as transport, housing, hospitals, schools, community centres and libraries are most needed.

Ghetts said: “The point is that young people are the future.

“We’ve got to take every opportunity to get our views across so that we get the sort of communities that we want for our own kids.

“The census gives us a chance to shape the future of our neighbourhoods.

“It’s time to stand up and be counted.”

The rapper was accompanied by Helen Bray, stakeholder and communications manager at the Office for National Statistics, which runs the census.

Census 2011 takes place on March 27.