October
Black History Month
Black History Month (BHM) is an annual awareness campaign to highlight African and Caribbean history and heritage, and to promote a greater understanding of the UK's diverse cultural heritage. Throughout October, communities across the UK celebrate by hosting a wide range of events and activities to entertain, inform and educate.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Through the Month, Breast Cancer Care aims to inform people about breast cancer and teach all women to become breast aware.
International Walk to School month
International School Libraries Month
Highlights the importance of school libraries in the education of our children.
World Blindness Awareness Month
1 - 31 October 2008 The Big Draw
The Big Draw, part of the Campaign for Drawing, happens in October in many different places all over the UK. Throughout October there are drawing events and activities in museums and galleries, in libraries and shopping centres, in castles and country houses, on nature reserves and in schools
19 September - 4 October 2009 British Food Fortnight
A celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food available in Britain
28 Sept - 4 October 2009 - IFAW Animal Action Week
IFAW Animal Action Week is the largest animal-focused educational event in the world. It takes place during the first week of October, to coincide with World Animal Day on 4 October.
2 October 2009 - Jeans for Genes
Everyone across the UK is being urged to 'denimstrate' they care this Jeans for Genes Day and help raise funds for sick children.
2 October 2008 - Byte Night
The IT industry's annual sleep out in support of young people who are coping with life after care or facing homelessness.
2 October 2009 - World Smile Day
Every year, on the first Friday in October we celebrate Smiley, his message of goodwill, and World Smile Day®.
4 October 2009 - World Animal Day
UK animal welfare groups, sanctuaries and individuals will hold special events to heighten public awareness of animal issues and to encourage people to think about how we relate to animals.
4 - 10 October 2009 - World Space WeekÂ
It is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from 4-10 October.
5 -11 October 2009 Learn to Sign Week
The British Deaf Association(BDA) campaign throughout the United Kingdom to encourage the public to join in, enjoy themselves and learn British Sign Language (BSL).
5 October 2008 - World Teachers' Day
World Teachers' Day is an annual event celebrated in over 100 countries worldwide. The aim of World Teachers' Day is to emphasise the role of teachers world-wide as well as to convince teachers themselves of the crucial importance of the role they play in society.
5 -11 October 2009 National Customer Service Week
5 October 2009 - World Architecture Day
Celebrated each year on the first Monday of October in conjunction with World Habitat Day.
5 October 2009 - World Habitat Day
Every year, since 1985, when it was designated by the General Assembly, World Habitat Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in October. This day has been set aside by the United Nations for the world to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
6 - 12 October 2009 - National Children's Book Week
Children's Book Week is an annual celebration of reading for pleasure co-ordinated by Booktrust.
9 October 2009 World Post Day
World Post Day is observed on 9 October every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) on October 9th, 1874. Postal services in all countries provide the primary means of communication for people, organisations and business. The goal is to ensure a universal postal service that is easily accessible, efficient and affordable.
14 October 2009 - International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
Celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of October as vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
8 October 2009 - World Sight Day
Held on the second Thursday of October each year, the event focuses attention on the problem of global blindness.
8 October 2009 - National Poetry Day
10 October 2009 World Mental Health Day
The Mental Health Foundation celebrates World Mental Health Day each year on 10 October, using it as an opportunity to communicate with the general public about mental health issues.
10 October 2009 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
A unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world.
11 October 2009 - Seed Gathering Sunday
The Tree Council has designated the second Sunday in October as a special Seed Gathering Day to collect seeds for growing into the new trees of the future.
12 October 2009 - World Arthritis Day
On World Arthritis Day, people with arthritis from around the world join together to make their voices heard and raise awareness of arthritis.
16 October 2009 - World Food Day
World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. The world produces enough food for everyone. Yet every 5 seconds a child dies of hunger or malnutrition and over 800 million people go to bed hungry.
16 October Child Poverty Day
Support ActionAid’s Child Poverty Day and be part of the UK’s biggest celebration of childhood to help end Child poverty.
21 October 2009 - Apple Day
An annual celebration of the huge variety of apples grown in Britain and the richness and importance of traditional orchards.
21 October 2009 - Trafalgar Day
Trafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805.
22 October 2009 - International Stammering Awareness Day
International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD) happens on 22nd October every year to raise awareness of stuttering.
24 October 2009 - United Nations Day
Marking the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations on 24 October 1945.
23 October 2009 - Everyone Writes Day
Plan to collapse the curriculum for the day to get the whole school excited about writing.
24 October 2009 - VSO's Big Curry Night
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) is calling on people across the country to help raise funds for their work in the developing world by hosting a "Big Curry Night" for friends and family. 2008 is the 50th Anniversary of VSO
25 October 2009 - British Summer Time ends (Clocks go back one hour)
25 October 2009 - National Sleep-In Day
The day the clocks go back and we all get to spend an extra hour in bed.
31 October 2009- Halloween
31 October 2009 - Bug Busting Day: Head Lice Beware!
Campaigning to tackle the massive problem of head lice.
31 October 2009 - Wear it pink Day
