Category: Annual event

Shavuot is one of the Jewish harvest festivals, also known as the festival or feast of ‘Weeks’. It takes place seven weeks after the first day of the spring festival of Passover and this year starts on the evening of 25 May, ending on the evening on 27 May. Originally an agricultural festival, marking the … Continue reading “Shavu’ot 25-27 May”

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Anxiety’. Anxiety is an emotion that affects us all. Whether you’re worried about passing an exam, concerned about money or trying something new that you’ve not done before, it’s normal to feel some level of anxiety at stressful times in life. However, anxiety can become … Continue reading “Mental Health Awareness Week 15-21 May”

On 12 May, the Mass Observation Archive will be repeating its annual call for day diaries, capturing the everyday lives of people across the UK. The written diaries will be stored in the Archive at The Keep in Brighton and be used by a wide range of people for research, teaching and learning. In 1937 … Continue reading “Mass Observation Day 12 May”

Iain Cormack, Wellbeing Officer in SHAC, has kindly written of his recent experience of celebrating his first Mardi Gras in Orlando. Thank you to Iain for his contribution – what an experience and a visual treat! Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday as it translates from French) is a colourful and worldwide carnival celebration which traditionally … Continue reading “Wellbeing Officer blog: Mardi Gras in Orlando”

World Book Day is an annual charity event that began in 1995 and is celebrated in the UK and Ireland on the first Thursday in March. On World Book Day, every child in full-time education is given a voucher to spend on whatever book they want, with the hopes of encouraging children to read more. … Continue reading “World Book Day 2 March”

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Happening every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. You don’t have to host a huge event to get the conversation going on Time to Talk Day. Remember, every conversation matters – … Continue reading “Time to Talk Day 2 February”

National Puzzle Day recognises the value of puzzles and how they can benefit our mental development. Whether it’s a crossword, jigsaw, word search, Sudoku puzzle or brain teaser, puzzles are a great way to put our minds to work. Regularly spending time working on puzzles can improve: memory cognitive function problem-solving skills logic and reasoning critical thinking vocabulary … Continue reading “National Puzzle Day 29 January”

World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December 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. … Continue reading “World AIDS Day 1 December”

Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Her defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott; its success launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities. On December 1, 1955, Parks was arrested for refusing a … Continue reading “Rosa Parks Day 1 December”

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance that honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who … Continue reading “Transgender Day of Remembrance (20 Nov)”