Plymouth City Council is committed to celebrating the diversity of it's workforce, service users and communities. Here you can find our equality and diversity calender which sets out the equality and diversity dates which we plan to mark during 2024.
January
Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place annually on 27 January and marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. We are proud of the Council's ongoing commitment to mark Holocaust Memorial Day as a civic event each year.
February
LGBT+ History Month - throughout February
LGBT+ History Month is an annual campaign each February which aims to increase the visibility of LGBT+ communities, their history and their experiences. It provides an opportunity for us all to learn and better understand the issues the LGBT+ community may face. We mark LGBT+ History Month each year.
Childrens' Mental Health Week - 5 to 11 February
Children’s Mental Health Week shines a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. This year we worked with The Zone Plymouth and other partners to deliver loads of activities in city schools. You can find free resources on the Plymouth Online Directory to help you support your children.
Chinese New Year - 10 February
Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of the Chinese new year. It is a time for families to celebrate and spend time together.
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week - 5 to 11 February
When a child or young person is sexually abused, they're forced or tricked into sexual activities. They might not understand that what's happening is abuse or that it's wrong. They might be afraid to tell someone. Sexual abuse can happen anywhere and it can happen in person or online. Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week aims to promote the prevention of sexual abuse.
March
International Women's Day - 8 March
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8 March and is a celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world. It has been marked for over a century and is now a global celebration and a call for action to promote equality for women.
Holi - 18 March
Holi is a Hindu festival and is known as the Festival of Colours. It tends to be a time of celebration and is well known for its use of bright colours.
Naw-Ruz - 20 to 21 March
Naw-Rúz marks the start of Spring within the Baha’i faith. The festival tends to be a time for celebration and prayer.
Ramadan - 10 March to 8 April
Ramdan marks the beginning of the period of fasting for Muslims and is a time for reflection and gratitude within the Islamic faith.
Easter - 29 March
Easter is an important festival within the Christian faith which marks Jesus rising from the dead three days after he was executed.
International Transgender Day of Visibility - 31 March
International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the accomplishments of the transgender community. It is also a time to recognise the continued barriers that transgender community face.
April
Passover - 22 to 30 April
Passover is one of the most important festivals in Judaism and celebrates the Exodus. It is a time people tend to spend with their families.
Vaisakhi - 13 April
Vaisakhi is a spring festival for Sikhs and is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. The festival is also celebrated annually by Hindus. It is a time people tend to spend with their families.
First Day of Ridvan - 20 April
the First Day of Ridvan is one of the holiest of days in the Baha'i faith.
Eid al-Fitr - 9 to 10 April
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan for Muslims and is a time of celebration for many within the Muslim community.
St. George's Day - 23 April
St. George's Day is a day of national celebration in England.
National Stalking Awareness Week - TBC
National Stalking Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of stalking and the emotional distress it can cause for victims.
May
Polish Heritage Days - 4 to 5 May
Polish Heritage Days is an annual festival aims to promote and celebrate polish culture and acknowledge the contributions that people of Polish heritage have made to the UK.
Vesak - 23 May
Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals which commemorates the birth and passing away of the Buddah.
Dementia Action Week - 15 to 21 May
Dementia Action Week aims to raise awareness of Dementia and is a national event that sees the UK public taking action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - 17 May
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia aims to raise awareness of discrimination towards people who identify as LBGT+.
June
Carers Week - 10 to 16 June
Carers Week aims to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the incredible contribution that carers play.
Men’s Health Week - 12 to 18 June
Men's Health Week is marked annually and aims to raise awareness of health issues that disproportionately affect boys and men. Find out more information on Men's Health Forum website.
There is also support information about organisations working specifically with men available on the Plymouth Online Directory website.
Refugee Week - 17 to 23 June
Refugee Week takes place annually and celebrates the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. The theme for 2023 is compassion. Find out what is happening in Plymouth during Refugee Week.
Pride Month - throughout June
Pride Month celebrates this history of LGBT+ communities and recognises the contributions that these communities have made.
July
Ratha Yatra Festival - 1 July
Ratha-yatra or the Festival of Chariots is an important festival in the Hindu faith which celebrates community spirit.
Respect Festival - 7 July
Respect Festival is an annual celebration of the diversity of Plymouth which is supported by Plymouth & Devon Racial Equality Council.
August
Pride - TBC
Pride takes place annually and is a celebration of LGBT+ communities in Plymouth and nationally.
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - 23 August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition marks the abolition of slavery and provides an opportunity for us all to learn from this tragedy.
October
Black History Month - Throughout October
Black History Month celebrates the history and contributions that Black individuals and communities have made to society.
World Mental Health Day - 10 October
World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity to talk about mental health and aims to raise awareness about how important it is that we look after and talk about our mental health.
Hate Crime Awareness Week - 14 to 21 October
Hate Crime Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of hate crime and hate incidents and encourage individuals to report hate crimes and hate incidents.
UK-Philippines Friendship Day - 20 October
UK-Philippines Friendship Day marks the friendship of the UK with the Philippines.
National Care Leavers Week - 25 October to 1 November
National Care Leavers Week is an opportunity to celebrate the successes of care leavers.
November
Guru Nanak Gurpurab - 8 November
Guru Nanak Gurpurab is the most important festival in the Sikh faith and is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak De Ji.
Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas - 19 November
Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas are major religious festivals in Hinduism and Sikhism.
Inter Faith Week - 12 to 19 November
Inter Faith Week aims to promote positive relations between faiths and increase awareness of different faiths and faith communities.
16 days of action against domestic abuse - 25 November to 10 December
16 days of action against domestic abuse aims to raise awareness of violence against women and girls and encourage people to take steps to reduce violence against women and girls.
December
Great Union Day - 1 December
Great Union Day is celebrated annually on 1st December in Romania and marks the unification of Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina with the Romanian Kingdom in 1918. This has become known as the Great Union.
World Aids Day - 1 December
World Aids Day aims to raise awareness of HIV and Aids and show support for people living with the illnesses. It is also a time for us to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December
International Day of Disabled Persons aims to celebrate the contributions that people with disabilities make to society. It also aims to raise awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities continue to face in society.
Chanukah/Grand Menorah lighting - 15 December
Chanukah (also spelt Hanukkah) is the Jewish Festival of Lights. Chanukah commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple holy temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees. Chanukah lasts for eight days and starts on the evening of the Kislev 25 in the Jewish calendar.
Christmas Day - 25 December
Christmas Day is an annual festival in the Christian faith that marks the birth of Jesus Christ