Here you can find out about national days around health and wellbeing, lend your support to some worthwhile causes and make some changes to improve your own health and wellbeing.
June | |
7 - 13 | Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. |
14 - 20 | One man in five dies before the age of 65. Together we can change that. |
14 - 18 | British Nutritional Foundation (BNF) . Have Breakfast; Have 5 A Day; Drink plenty; Get active; and try something new. |
14 - 20 | Cervical screening prevents 75% of cervical cancers from developing yet one in four women don’t attend. Cervical Cancer Awareness week aims to make it easier for every eligible woman and person with a cervix to attend cervical screening. |
14 - 20 | An annual highlight in the DiabetesUK calendar, as it's a time when supporters are brought together to raise awareness of the condition and the vital funds required for future work. |
22 - 28 17 | Annual awareness event focusing on lung health ran by the British Lung Foundation. Air pollution is real and harms the health of millions. But there are lots of simple things we can do to improve air quality and look after our own and other people’s health. Clean Air Day is a chance to find out more about air pollution, share information with friends and colleagues, and help make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone. |
July | |
24 | Every six seconds, somebody contacts Samaritans. Ten times a minute they help someone turn their life around |
28 | Worldwide, 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware. Without finding the undiagnosed and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost. World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, calls on people from across the world to take action, raise awareness and join in the quest to find the “missing millions”. |
August | |
1 - 7 | World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide based on the Innocenti Declarations, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). |
5 | The UK’s biggest cycle commuting event. Every year since 2012 thousands of enthusiastic riders hit the streets to celebrate everyday cycling. All you need to take part is a bike – new or old – and the desire to ride. You can go solo or be the change your workplace needs and organise an event for you and your colleagues. Whatever you do, however far your ride – have fun |
September | |
1 - 30 | September is Urology Awareness Month. Organised by The Urology Foundation, this month aims to raise awareness of urological disease as well as raise money so we can fund vital research and training into these diseases. |
5 -11 | Migraine is the third most common disease in the world, with an estimated global prevalence of one in seven people. Despite being recognised as one of the most disabling lifetime conditions, awareness and understanding is low. Migraine Awareness Week, beginning on the first Sunday in September, aims to raise awareness of the condition, highlight its impact and our vital work to support the millions of people affected. |
6 - 12 | Know your Numbers! is Blood Pressure UK's flagship awareness campaign.It encourages adults across the UK to know their blood pressure numbersand take the necessary action to reach and maintainhealthy blood pressure. |
10 | World Suicide Prevention Daypromotes worldwidecommitment and action to prevent suicides. Thesponsoring organisation, International Associationfor Suicide Prevention, the co-sponsor WHO andother partners, advocate for the prevention ofsuicidal behaviour, provision of adequate treatmentand follow-up care for people who attemptedsuicide, as well as responsible reporting of suicides in the media. |
25 | National Fitness Day is a chance to highlight the role physical activity plays across the UK, helping us raise awareness of its importance in helping us lead healthier and active lifestyles. National Fitness Day sees a huge range of activity options enjoyed by participants of all ages, such as ‘plank offs’, yoga and pilates classes, treadmill challenges, high-street HIIT classes, dance-offs, mass walks and many more. |
October | |
1 - 31 | An annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure |
1 - 31 | HEART UK'sRaising awareness of the dangers of high cholesterol and raising funds to support our life-saving work. HEART UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to saving lives by helping people to avoid heart attacks or strokes caused by high cholesterol. Get involved! Enter The Great Cholesterol Climb and see how many of Britain’s tallest buildings you can climb virtually. By doing so, you will be helping to improve your own heart health, whilst raising money to support our valuable work. Further information email fundraising@heartuk.org.uk |
4 - 10 | In 2021, we will be putting aside 4-10October to explore dyslexia creates – looking at the at the power of dyslexia to create ideas, organisations and society and the invaluable contribution this makes to the UK. We recognise, however, that dyslexia also creates challenges and barriers so this theme will enable us to raise awareness of these and explore best practice in dyslexia support that empowers individuals to achieve their potential. |
4 - 8 | For nearly 50 years BackCare has been dedicated to educating the public throughout the UK and wider further afield in ways of preventing and alleviating back pain. The charity aims to significantly reduce the burden of back & neck pain by providing information, guidance and advice to all people and organisations those affected by such pain. |
11- 15 | National Work Life Week is an opportunity for both employers and employees to focus on well-being at work and work-life balance. Employers can use the week to provide activities for staffand toshowcase their flexible working policies and practices. |
10 | The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. |
18 | The International Menopause Society is marking the day by publishing a report encouraging women to “have a health audit – and take action at the time of the menopause to avoid chronic diseases in later life.” Actions taken at the time of the menopause can avoid chronic diseases in later life, according to a report on women’s health marking International Menopause Day. |
November | |
6 | We all know what it’s like to feel stressed - being under pressure is a normal part of life. But becoming overwhelmed by stress can lead to mental health problems or make existing problems worse. National Stress Awareness Day is a great opportunity to take a moment to think about our wellbeing and find advice or support on managing stress. We’ve got some suggestions for how you can join the conversation about stress. |
14 | Led by the International Diabetes Federation, WDD unites the global diabetes community to produce a powerful voice for diabetes awareness and advocacy. The campaign aims to reflect the realities of dealing with a chronic condition. |
15 - 21 | Alcohol Awareness Week is a chance for the UK to get thinking about drinking. It’s a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more. |
18 | COPD is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It's a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe because your airways have been narrowed. Life with COPD can be difficult. Everyday tasks can become a challenge. It's a progressive condition, which means there is no cure. British LungFoundation is researching COPD to find new treatments and cures. |
December | |
1 | World AIDS Day takes place on 1December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first-ever global health day. |
3 | "On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to work together for a better world that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable for everyone, where the rights of people with disabilities are fully realized." — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General |