Plan Your EDI calendar Part 3: Families & Caring

We continue our series highlighting the important dates on the EDI calendar to help you and your teams plan activities and events in 2024.

We’re looking here at significant dates and awareness days for those with parenting or caring here, but remember that the Empower Up list of important dates and events is constantly updated and can help you with month-by-month planning, as it covers the key dates associated with all groups and communities.

There are a number of recognition and awareness dates for families and those with caring responsibilities. But the dates that are probably the most key for parents are the school holidays, which can often bring challenges when it comes to childcare. We have included these dates here so that you can be aware of the tricky times for your teams who have children. But please note: dates vary according to regions across the UK, so we’ve included the full range of dates that children around the UK will be on school holidays. If you organise events, it’s worth noting that these times are often tricky for parents, too.

February 12^th-23^rd – HALF TERM HOLIDAY

March 21^st – Single Parents Day

Since 2018 Single Parents Day has been celebrated in the UK, the date having been acknowledged in the US since 1984. Support charity Gingerbread brings attention on this day to the challenges faced by single parents, as well as recognising their achievements.

LINK: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/about-us/days-we-celebrate/single-parents-day/

March 25^th – April 15^th – EASTER SCHOOL HOLIDAY

April 24^th – 30^th – Global Intergenerational Week

This is an annual campaign that looks to inspire individuals, groups and organisations to look at ways to connect individuals from all generations.

LINK: https://generationsworkingtogether.org/global-intergenerational-week

May 27^th-31^st – HALF TERM HOLIDAY

June 10^th-16^th – Carers Week

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

LINK: https://www.carersweek.org

July 19^th-September 5^th – SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAY (The BIG one!)

August 1^st-7^th – World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week started in 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work, education, human rights and more. Since 2016 the event has been aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

LINK: https://waba.org.my/wbw/

September 16^th-22^nd – World Childless Week

As the name suggests, this event raises awareness of those who are childless not by choice.

LINK: https://worldchildlessweek.net

October 1^st – International Day of Older Persons

This day was established in 1991 by the United Nations to raise awareness of the impact of an ageing population.

LINK: https://www.un.org/en/observances/older-persons-day

October 9^th-15^th – Baby Loss Awareness Week

A time for those who have suffered loss to acknowledge their grief and come together as a support community. The #WaveOfLight messages of remembrance and hope bring many people together.

LINK: https://babyloss-awareness.org

October 18^th – November 1^st – HALF TERM HOLIDAY

October 14^th – National Adoption Week

An event to share the stories of adoptive families and to raise awareness of the adoption process.

LINK: https://www.youcanadopt.co.uk/naw/

December 20^th – January 6^th – CHRISTMAS SCHOOL HOLIDAY

To ensure that you’re on top of all the important dates in the EDI calendar, bookmark the Empower Up Events page here.