Diversity Calendar
2023 - 2024
Equality and Diversity at the University of Bedfordshire
Our University is proud of our super-diverse local and global community of students and staff.
All of us who work and learn within the University are committed to ensuring that all our work begins from the advancement of equity and a principle of inclusion where we respect the rights and dignity of all people whatever their background.
Diversity is one of our key strengths and fundamental to our success. We value the diversity of all, and recognise peoples’ distinct, intersectional identities and their role in enhancing our University community. We want to ensure that everyone thrives and are treated equally and with respect and are committed to eliminate practices that undermine or are harmful to anyone involved in the activities of our University.
We therefore have a zero tolerance of unlawful discrimination, intimidation or harassment of anyone connected with the University, specifically related to their race, religion or belief, age, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital or partnership status or maternity and pregnancy and are committed to take appropriate action to address it. In addition we strive to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between all people at the University.
We are committed to a developing a culture of learning and will create an environment where people can address and debate differences and constantly reflect on practices to drive improvement. We recognise that conversations and debate on areas of equality, diversity and inclusion are often challenging and that people will make mistakes. We will openly acknowledge our mistakes and take accountability to improve practices and ensure mistakes are not repeated.
Our Commitment to EDIA message from our EDI Leads
The University of Bedfordshire wants to create a vibrant, ambitious, academic community, celebrating diversity and the transformative power of education. Our University is proud of our diverse local and global community of students and staff.
All of us who work and learn with Bedfordshire and committed to ensuring that all our work begins from the advancement of equality and a principle of inclusion where we respect the rights and dignity of all people whatever their background.
Diversity is one of our key strengths and fundamental to our success. We value the diversity of all, and recognise peoples’ distinct, intersectional identities and their role in enhancing our University community. We want to ensure that everyone thrives and are treated equally and with respect and are committed to eliminate practices that undermine or are harmful to anyone involved in the activities of our University.
This can be achieved through a values-based Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy which recognises our responsibilities under the Equality Act (2010) to create working and learning environments which are non-discriminatory, inclusive of all, and that value diversity, intersectional needs and identities.
September 2023
Our National Inclusion Week EDI Panel - National Inclusion Week 2023
– Judaism Navaratri - HIndu
Day of Peace World Alzheimer’s Day
Bi Visibility Day International Day of Sign Languages Mabon – Wicca/Pagan 25thUK National Inclusion Week begins 29thWorld Heart Day
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 September September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month | International Blood Cancer Awareness Month | World Alzheimer’s Month | World Dementia Awareness Month | Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month Diversity Faith Health Environment International
17th
International
Day 21st
International
Disability
9thMilton Keynes Pride International Literacy Day 10thWorld Suicide Prevention Day 15thInternational Day of Democracy Rosh Hashanah
World Deaf Day 18th
Equal Pay
-
23rd
October 2023
Black Excellence in Performance - Black History Month
October October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Down Syndrome Awareness Month | Black History Month | Global Diversity Awareness Month | Stoptober 1st International Day of Older Persons 2nd Dyslexia week begins Black Business week begins 6th World Cerebral Palsy Day 10th World Mental Health Day 11th National Coming Out Day 15th Navaratri - Hindu 17th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 18th World Menopause Day 19th International Pronouns Day 20th Show Racism the Red Card 26th Intersex Awareness Day 31st Samhain – Wicca/ Pagan Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability 31 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Our remembrance serviceRemembrance Sunday
November 2023
November
5th Guy
12th Remembrance
UK
13th World
14th World
16th UK Disability History Month begins 17th International Student’s Day 19th International Men’s Day 20th Transgender Day of Remembrance 25th International Day for the Elimination
Violence
Women 27th Birthday
Dev
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month | Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month | Movember Men’s Health Awareness Month | Islamaphobia Awarenes month 1st All Saints’ Day –Christian
Fawkes Night
Sunday
Interfaith Week begins
Kindness Day
Diabetes Day
of
against
of Guru Nanak
– Sikh
December 2023
Our Wheelchair Rugby Team - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December December is Universal Month for Human Rights | AIDS Awareness Month | Decembeard 1st World AIDS Day 2nd International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 3rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities 5th International Volunteer Day 7th Hannukah begins - Judaism 8th Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) –Buddhist 10th Human Rights Day 18th International Migrants Day 21st Yule – Wicca/Pagan 24th Christmas Eve – Christian 25th Christmas Day –Christian 26th Boxing Day Kwanzaa begins 31st New Year’s Eve Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
January 2024
Our graduates celebrating their achievements - International Day of Education
January January is Cervical Health Awareness Month | Celebration of Life Month |Dry January | Good Care Month | Veganuary 1st New Year’s Day 4th World Braille Day 5th Twelth Night - Christian 10th Chinese New Year 13th Lohri/Maghi – Hindu, Sikh 15th Makar Sankranti – Hindu 21st World Religion Day 24th International Day of Education 25th Burns Night Mahayana New Year –Buddhist 27th Holocaust Memorial Day 28th Data Privacy Day Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
February 2024
Running our Race Equality Charter Student ForumsUK Race Equality Week
February February is UK National Heart Month | LGBT History Month | 1st World Interfaith Harmony Week begins Imbolc – Wicca/Pagan 4th World Cancer Day 5th National Apprenticeship Week UK Race Equality Week begins Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week begins 11th International Day of Women and Girls in Science World Day of the Sick 11th Autism Sunday 13th Shrove Tuesday – Christian 14th Saint Valentine’s Day Safer Internet Day 15th Parinirvana Day/Nirvana Day –Buddhist 20th World Day of Social Justice 21st International Mother language Day 26th International STAND UP to Bullying Day Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
March 2024
Student Celebrating Holi the festival of colours - Holi
March March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month | National Bed Month 1st Zero Discrimination Day International Wheelchair Day St David’s Day 3rd World Hearing Day World Wildlife Day 7th World Book Day Lailat al Miraj – Islam 8th International Women’s Day 10th Ramadan Begins Mothering Sunday 17th Saint Patrick’s Day – Christian 18th Global Recycling Day Neurodiversity celebration week 20th Ostara – Wicca/Pagan begins Nowruz (New Year) – Iranian 21st Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination World Down Syndrome Day 24th Palm Sunday – Christian 25th Holi – Hindu International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery Hola Mohalla – Sikh 31st International Transgender Day of Visibility Easter Sunday – Christian Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
April 2024
Baroness Doreen Lawrence Speaking on Campus - Stephen Lawrence Day
April April is Stress Awareness Month | Parkinson’s Awareness Month | Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 1st April Fool’s Day Easter Monday – Christian 2nd World Autism Awareness Day 7th World Health Day 8th International Romani Day 10th Eid al Fitr – Islam 13th Vaisakhi – Sikh 15th Universal Day of Culture 22nd Earth Day Stephen Lawrence Day Passover Begins - Judaism 23rd Saint George’s Day – Christian 25th World Malaria Day 26th Lesbian Visibility day 28th World Day for Health & Safety at Work Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
May 2024
Our Mental Health First
Mental Health Awareness Week
Aiders -
May May is Stroke Awareness Month | UK National Walking Month | Celiac Awareness Month | Local and Community History Month 1st Beltane - Wicca/Pagan Deaf Awareness Week Begins 3rd World Press Freedom Day 8th World Red Cross Day 12th International Nurses Day 13th Mental Health Awareness Week Begins 16th Global Accessibility Awareness Day 17th International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 21st World Day for Cultural Diversity 22nd International Day for Biological Diversity 23rd Vesak – Buddhist 25th Anniversary of the Murder of George Floyd 31st World No-Tobacco Day Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
June 2024
Student praying on Campus - Eid Al Adha
June June is Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month | Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Awareness Month | LGBTQ Pride Month | Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month | National Safety Month 5th World Environment Day 8th World Oceans Day Global Wellness Day 11th Shavuot – Judaism 12th Men’s Health Week Begins 14th World Blood Donor Day 16th Eid al Adha – Islam 18th Autistic Pride Day 20th World Refugee Week Begins 21st Litha - Wicca/Pagan 22nd UK Windrush Day 23rd International Women in Engineering Day Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
July 2024
Staff enjoying our Summer Party - International Friendship Day
July July is UV Safety Month | World Watercolour Month |Group B Strep Awareness Month | Anti Boredom Month 6th Islamic New Year 14th International Non-Binary People’s Day 15th World Youth Skills Day 16th Ashura – Islam 17th World Day for International Justice 18th Nelson Mandela International Day 26th Tish’a B’av – Judaism 30th International Day of Friendship Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
August 2024
High School students taking part in our Bedford Forest SchoolWorld Youth Day
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month | Happiness Happens Month | Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month
1st Lughnasadh – Wicca/ Pagan 9th International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 12th International Youth Day 19th World Humanitarian Day Raksha Bandhan –Hindu 21st International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 23rd International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
August
Diversity Faith Health Environment International Disability Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
September 2024
Students in the LibraryNational Literacy Day
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 September September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month | International Blood Cancer Awareness Month | World Alzheimer’s Month | World Dementia Awareness Month | Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month Diversity Faith Health Environment International 4th World Sexual Health Day 6th Ganesh Chaturthi – Hindu 9thInternational Literacy Day 10thWorld Suicide Prevention Day 15thInternational Day of Democracy 17thWorld Deaf Day 18th International Equal Pay Day 21stInternational Day of Peace World Alzheimer’s Day Mabon – Wicca/Pagan 23rdBi Visibility Day International Day of Sign Languages UK National Inclusion Week begins 27th World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – Macmillan 29thWorld Heart Day Disability