Equality and diversity policy and strategy
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2019-25 (.pdf) sets out our approach, in the context of our institutional mission, values and objectives as set out in our Strategic Plan, our People Supporting Strategy, our Education and Research Strategies and equalities legislation.
It supports our commitment to addressing under-representation where it exists, celebrating the diversity of our students and staff, nurturing communities of belonging in which all are accepted without exception, promoting inclusion, well-being, resilience and empowerment to enable everyone to reach their full potential as well as supporting and encouraging Academic Freedom of Speech within the law.
It applies to all employees, workers, contractors, students and visitors and is a means to ensure that every member of our community is aware of their rights and responsibilities.
Key festivals / themes
Dates will change each year for many festivals. For an up-to-date calendar with events happening around the University, please see the University’s live EDI calendar.
January
New Year’s Day / Hogmanay
World Braille Day
World Religion Day
Chinese New Year
Holocaust Memorial Day
February
LGBT History Month
World Hijab Day
World Cancer Day
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
Race Equality Week
National Apprenticeship Week
March
Women’s History Month
Employee Appreciation Day
National Careers Week
International Women’s Day
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Mother’s Day UK
International Day of Happiness
International Day for the Elimination of Race Discrimination
World Down Syndrome Day
National Day of Reflection
Transgender Day of Visibility
April
Stress Awareness Month
World Autism Acceptance Month
World Autism Awareness Day
World Health Day
International Romani Day
Lesbian Visibility Day
May
Deaf Awareness Week
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Mental Health Awareness Week
International Day of Families
International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
June
LGBTQI+ Pride Month
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
Global Day of Parents
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikhism)
Pentecost (Christian)
Shavuot (Judaism)
Carer's Week
Autistic Pride Day
Father's Day
Learning Disability Week
Refugee Week
World Refugee Day
International Father's Mental Health Day
Midsummer Solstice (Paganism)
Windrush Day
International Women in Engineering Day
Deaf Blind Awareness Week
July
Disability Pride Month
International Women with Alopecia Month
Hajj/Pilgrimage (Islam)
Eid al Adha (Islam)
Dhamma Day (Buddhism)
South Asian Heritage Month
DeafBlind Awareness Week
International Non-Binary People Day
Al-Hijra/Islamic New Year (Islam)
International Self Care Day
August
South Asian Heritage Month
Lammas/Lughnasadh (Paganism)
Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
Tisha B’Av (Judaism)
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)
International Youth Day
Krishna Janmashtami – Hindu
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
September
World Alzheimer's Month
Colour Blind Awareness Day
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Afro Day
International Week of Happiness at Work
International Equal Pay Day
Celebrate Bisexuality Day
October
Black History Month
Global Diversity Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Menopause Awareness Month
International Day of Older Persons
Dyslexia Awareness Week
Yom Kippur
World Cerebral Palsy Day
National Work Life Week
World Mental Health Day
World Homeless Day
Sukkot (Judaism)
National Coming Out Day
World Sight Day
Invisible Disabilities Week
International Pronouns Day
World Menopause Day
Wear Red to Work Day
International Stuttering Awareness Day
Diwali (Hindu)
Intersex Awareness Day
International Stress Awareness Week
All Hallows’ Eve (Christian)
November
Men’s Health Awareness Month
UK Disability History Month
National Stress Awareness Day
All Saints Day (Christian)
All Souls’ Day (Christian)
El Dia de los Muertos (Latin America)
UK Interfaith Week begins
Transgender Awareness Week
International Day of Tolerance
International Men’s Day
Transgender Day of Remembrance
International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women
Advent Sunday (Christian)
December
UK Disability History Month
World AIDS Day
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Human Rights Day
International Migrants Day
Chanukah begins (Judaism)
Christmas Eve (Christian)
Christmas (Christian)
Kwanzaa begins
To suggest additional EDI related dates, please contact inclusion@essex.ac.uk
