Organising in your workplace: calendar of key dates and themes
One of the most important aspects of organising is identifying key issues that will activate members and engage potential members. We’ve put together a list of key dates and themes for Bectu reps and members to organise events around.
On many of these dates, Bectu will already be doing some campaigning and have resources which you can also utilise. All dates have significant relevance to at least some of Bectu‘s incredibly diverse membership.
Equality and diversity
February
March
8: International Women’s Day
21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
31: International Transgender Day
May
17: International Day Against Homophobia
June
TBC: Pride Edinburgh
TBC: Pride in London
July
31: Belfast Pride
August
TBC: Pride Cymru
October
November
16: International Day for Tolerance
20: Trans Day of Remembrance
25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
December
Disability History Month
1: World Aids Day
3: International Day for Disabled People
Health, safety and wellbeing
February
April
Stress Awareness Month
7: World Health Day
28: World Day for Safety and Health at Work
May
10-16: Mental Health Awareness Week
June
Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month
8-13: Carers’ Week
September
10: World Suicide Prevention Day
October
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
12-15: National Work Life Week
10: World Mental Health Day
November
2-5: National Stress Awareness Week
11-14: Anti-Bullying Week
Religious festivals
February
17: Ash Wednesday (Christian)
March
29: Holi (Hindu)
19: Naw-Ruz (Baha’i)
21: Spring Equinox (Pagan)
April
27 (March)- 4(April): Pesach (Passover) (Jewish)
2: Good Friday (Christian)
4: Easter Sunday (Christian)
13: Vaisakhi (Sikh)
12: Ramadan (Muslim)
19: Buddha Day
May
21: Ascension (Christian)
23: Eid-ul Fitr (Muslim)
23: End of Ramadan (Muslim)
29: Shavuot (Jewish)
29: Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
June
Midsummer (Pagan)
July
5: Asala – Dharma Day (Buddhist)
31: Eid ul-Adha (Muslim)
August
10: Shri Krishna Janmaashtam (Hindu)
19: Al Hijrah (New Year) (Muslim)
September
19: Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (Jewish)
22: Autumn Equinox (Pagan)
28: Yom Kippur (Jewish)
October
3: Sukkot (Jewish)
25: Vijayadashami (Hindu)
November
14: Diwali (Hindu, Sikh)
29: Birthday of Guru Nanak (Sikh)
December
11: Hannukah (Jewish)
21: Yule (Pagan)
25: Christmas Day (Christian)
26: St Stephen’s Day (Christian)
Environment
February
11-15: Go Green Week
24-8 March: Fairtrade Fortnight
March
3: World Wildlife Day
14: International Day of Action for Rivers
21: International Day of Forests
22: World Water Day
28: Earth Hour
June
5: World Environment Day
8: World Oceans Day
6-14: Bike Week
November
30: Tree Week
Other Dates
25 January: Chinese New Year
27 January: Holocaust Memorial Day
3-7 February: National Apprenticeship Week
10-16 February: Heart Unions Week
8 May: May Day
21 September: International Day of Peace
November: Young Workers’ Month
10 December: Human Rights Day