Diversity Exchange

Hanukkah
2024-12-25 - 2025-01-02
Hanukkah – An eight-day Jewish festival of lights, offering an opportunity to explore Jewish traditions, resilience, and their impact on global culture.

Christmas
2024-12-25
Christmas – (Christianity – Some Orthodox – 7 January) A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, which has also evolved into a global cultural event, offering a platform to discuss the commercialization and universal themes of peace and goodwill.

International Migrants Day
2024-12-18
International Migrants Day – The day is observed in many countries through sharing information on the human rights and fundamental political freedom of migrants, and by sharing the experiences.

UN International Day of People with Disabilities
2024-12-03
UN International Day of People with Disabilities – is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. https://idpwd.org/

International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
2024-11-25
International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women – A global day to combat gender-based violence, emphasizing the pressing need for collective action and intersectional feminism. This also marks the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

World Children's Day
2024-11-20
World Children’s Day is both a reminder and a celebration of the rights of children worldwide. In World Children’s Day 2024, there’s a unique alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to create an environment where every child can thrive..

Transgender Day of Remembranc
2024-11-20
Transgender Day of Remembrance – A solemn day to memorialize those lost to anti-transgender violence, advocating for safer and more inclusive environments.

International Mens Day
2024-11-19
International Mens Day – focuses on men’s health, improving gender relations, highlighting male role models, and promoting positive expressions of masculinity.

Disability History Month
2024-11-16 - 2024-12-16
Disability History Month – Is an annual event to raise awareness about disabled people’s fight for equality and human rights. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made for disability rights and to act on what we can do to support disability equality in the present https://ukdhm.org/

Guru Nanak's Birthday
2024-11-15
Guru Nanak’s Birthday (Sikh)- also known as Bābā Nānak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

Baby Week
2024-11-14 - 2024-11-20
Baby Week- to campaign and promote the best start in life. The initiative enables us to listen to parents and carers to enhance the way we work in maternity and early years. https://babyweek.co.uk/

Transgender Awareness Week
2024-11-13 - 2024-11-19
Transgender Awareness Week – is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which memorializes victims of transphobic violence.

World Kindness Day
2024-11-13
World Kindness Day – It’s a day to remind ourselves of the importance of being kind to others.

Interfaith Week
2024-11-12 - 2024-11-19
Interfaith Week – to celebrate co-operation and deepen friendship and understanding between faiths with a focus on environmental protection. https://www.interfaithweek.org/

Remembrance Sunday
2024-11-11
Remembrance Sunday – is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

Islamophobia Awareness Month
2024-11-01 - 2024-11-30
Islamophobia Awareness Month – to showcase the positive contributions of Muslims as well as raise awareness of Islamophobia in society. https://www.islamophobia-awareness.org/

Bandi Chhorh Diwas
2024-11-01
Bandi Chhorh Diwas (Sikh) – Commemorates the release of the sixth Sikh guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, from prison. Sikhs continue this annual celebration with lamps being lit outside gurdwaras and sweets distributed to all. This coincides with Diwali.

Diwali
2024-11-01
Diwali -(Hindu) – Also known as the “Festival of lights”, Diwali is the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar, signifying triumph of light over darkness. For some Hindus it also coincides with New Year celebrations.

Simchat Torah
2024-10-24 - 2024-10-25
Simchat Torah (Jewish) Celebrates the conclusion of the annual cycle of reading the Torah and the beginning of the new cycle.

World Menopause Day
2024-10-18
World Menopause Day – to raise awareness about the impact the condition has on the lives of women around the world.

Kathina
2024-10-17
Kathina (Buddhism) – The Kathina robe offering ceremony marks the end of vassa or the Buddhist Lent, the three months rainy season retreat observed by the Sangha or Buddhist monks. It originated 2,500 years ago and is celebrated by the giving of alms and offering of robes to the monks who observed the retreat, who in turn deliver sermons to the lay supporters.

Sukkot
2024-10-16 - 2024-10-23
Sukkot (Jewish) – The festival is a way to give thanks for a successful harvest, and is also a reminder of the Exodus – a time when Moses led his people out of slavery in Egypt.
People celebrate Sukkot at home and at a synagogue with family and friends, with a big meal at the end.

Hate Crime Awareness Week
2024-10-14 - 2024-10-21
Hate Crime Awareness Week – to bring people together to stand in solidarity with those affected by hate crime, to remember those we have lost, and support those who need ongoing support. https://bradfordhatecrimealliance.com/ You can also download the Hate Crime app from the website.

National Coming Out Day
2024-10-11
National Coming Out Day – A day to celebrate coming out as LGBTQ+, encouraging discussions about the varying challenges and triumphs experienced in different cultural settings.

Yom Kippur
2024-10-11
Yom Kippur (Jewish) – The Jewish Day of Atonement, emphasizing the importance of repentance and forgiveness, sparking conversations about these universal themes across different faiths.

National Braille Week
2024-10-10 - 2024-10-16
National Braille Week – to raise awareness of this tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired.

World Teachers' day
2024-10-05
World Teachers’ day – is an international day held annually to celebrate the work of teachers.

Navarati
2024-10-03 - 2024-10-12
Navarati (Hindu) – The celebration of Hindu Goddess Durga and victory of good over evil.

Rosh Hashanah
2024-10-02 - 2024-10-04
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) is a special festival that celebrates Jewish New Year and the start of the 10 days of repentance that precede Yom Kippur.

Black History Month
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-31
Black History Month – is to celebrate the contributions of Black heritage and culture to UK society as well to expand our understanding of Black history in the UK. https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/
