Equalities and diversity calendar - October 2012
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organised by breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of breast cancer issues, especially the importance of early detection.
The campaign raises funds for research, prevention and cure and also provides information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
Black History Month
October was first designated as Black History Month in the United Kingdom during 1987 by the former London Strategic Policy Unit, as part of its celebration of African Jubilee Year 1987-88. Today almost every region of the UK celebrates Black History Month and libraries, museums, galleries, archives and other public venues put on events to highlight the longevity of the Black and Asian presence in the UK and celebrate the nation's diverse cultural heritage.
1 International Day of Older Persons
The International Day of Older Persons is an international celebration that was initiated by the United Nations. Events and initiatives on this day highlight the health and wellbeing issues that relate to older people around the world.
1-7 Sukkot – Jewish
This commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land. Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Booths.
2 Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday
India's "Father of the Nation", his philosophy of peaceful resistance is widely credited with having forced the peaceful end of British rule of India in 1947, the year before his death.
4 St Francis Day - Catholic Christian
5 Jeans for Genes
Jeans for Genes is the national children's charity that holds Jeans for Genes Day. Wear your jeans, make a donation and help children with genetic disorders.
9 Simhat Torah – Jewish
This marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah.
10 World Mental Health Day
Each year, on 10 October, the Mental Health Foundation uses different themes to celebrate the day and raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing.
11 World Sight Day
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually-impaired held on the second Thursday in October.
12 World Arthritis Day
The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of arthritis in all its forms among the medical community, people with arthritis and the general public.
16 World Food Day
World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It marks the date of the founding of FAO in 1945. The aim of the day is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
16-23 Navaratri - Hindu
Navaratri (nine nights) symbolises the triumph of good over evil and marks the start of autumn.
20 Birth of the Báb - Bahái
Celebrates the birthday of the Báb, co-founder of the Bahái faith, who was born in 1819 in Shiraz, Persia.
24 Dussera - Hindu
Celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the evil demon Ravana. This ephigies of Ravana are burnt.
24 United Nations Day
United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the United Nations Charter coming into force in 1945 and celebrates the work of this organization.
24-27 Haji Day - Islam
The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah). It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every Muslim who can afford to do so. The pilgrimage occurs from the eight to twelfth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
26 Eid ul Adha - Islam
Eid al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Quran. Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon.
31 Halloween
Halloween (also spelled Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints, but is today largely a secular celebration.
31 to 6 Dyslexia Awareness Week - raises awareness of dyslexia and its hidden difficulties.
www.bdadyslexia.org.uk