Awareness Days - October 2022
Our Picks
See below the two campaigns we are getting behind this month.
World Sight Day
13th October
World Sight Day is on Thursday 13 October 2022 and we are focusing the world’s attention on the importance of eye care. We invite you to join us by prioritising your eye health and considering how eye care and rehabilitations services should be accessible, inclusive, and affordable to everyone, everywhere.
Taking action to #LoveYourEyes is about making sure your own vision is healthy now and long into the future, and raising awareness of those around the world who do not have access to eye care services or treatments.
The World Health Organization’s World Report on Vision and the UN Resolution on Vision have cemented eye health as critical to achieving the sustainable development goals. Loving your eyes is a big deal, to each of us as individuals and importantly, to levels of education and economic growth, poverty reduction and equality, and the health and wellbeing of families, communities and nations.
Use your voice to get behind World Sight Day
We will be working alongside Walthew House on the #LoveYourEyes campaign.
World Osteoporosis Day
20th October
There are 3.5 million people living with osteoporosis in the UK and someone breaks a bone every minute because of it.
Osteoporosis is a disease which causes bones to become weak and break easily. Half of all women and one in five men over 50 will break a bone due to poor bone health. In fact, every minute in the UK another bone breaks.
Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent disease” due to under-diagnosis, under-treatment and very low levels of public awareness.
World Osteoporosis Day is an opportunity to break the silence on osteoporosis and get more people thinking about their bone health.
Get involved
We need your help to raise awareness this World Osteoporosis Day! There are three ways to get involved:
- Share your story – tell us about your life with osteoporosis and encourage friends, family and colleagues to use our bone health checklist on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. #WOD21 #1EveryMinute
- Join our virtual mass lobby of Parliament – write to your MP or other elected official and #LobbyWithUs. Find our easy guide here
- Support us – Whether you test your friends, family, or colleagues with our bone-tastic Big Bones Quiz, host a Bone Sweepstake, or arrange your very own event, every pound you raise makes a big difference to people affected by osteoporosis. Everything you need to fundraise is available here #WOD21 #1EveryMinute
Work compiled by our amazing office volunteer Pat Goddard - Remember you can click on the pink headings to learn more about the awareness day or campaign.
Black History Month
All Month
As we look forward to celebrating Black History Month this October. You and your organisation have a wonderful opportunity to be part of the national celebrations and events to honour the too-often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in every area of endeavour throughout our history.
Black history month in Stockport
ADHD Awareness Month
All month
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse .
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school.
However, in the UK and Europe, around 90% of adults with ADHD are undiagnosed, especially girls and women. In England only 0.35% of girls and 1.5% of boys are receiving treatment, compared with a global average of 5.3% of children.
For more information about ADHD awareness month you can:
Find out more on the NHS website
ADHD Groups in Stockport
Stockport ASD - ADHD adult diagnostic service
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
All month
You’re affected by breast cancer, we’re always with you
Every October, people all over the world show their support for everyone affected by breast cancer.
We’re focused on accelerating research and providing vital support, every way we can, all year round.
This month, we’re committed to showing you that no matter who you are, whatever your experience of breast cancer – we’re always with you.
Sadly not all breast cancer cases are preventable and people will get breast cancer for reasons beyond their control.
But studies show that at least 30% of breast cancer cases are preventable. By making changes to your lifestyle you can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer.
This October we will be highlighting ways you can get active to reduce your risk.
By increasing the amount of physical activity you do, you can significantly reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Go Sober for October
All month
Becoming a Soberhero might not mean you get to wear a cape (although you can if you want to) but going sober does come with many benefits, all whilst changing the lives of people with cancer.
Perks of going sober
- Helping people living with cancer. By taking part in Sober October and raising money, you are helping Macmillan to do whatever it takes to support people from the moment of cancer diagnosis.
- More time on your hands. You’ll have time to fit in a morning gym class or weekend run, check out the breakfast menu at a new restaurant or learn something new once you’ve banished those horrible hangovers.
- Better sleeping pattern. You’ll wake up with a spring in your step and increased energy levels – who knows what greatness you could achieve?!
- A happier bank balance. By giving those alcoholic drinks a miss, just think how much you’ll save!
- A healthier you. With a clearer head, clearer skin and free from hangovers, you’ll be feeling on top of the world.
Sober October is an 18+ fundraising campaign aimed at challenging social drinkers to change their habits for a month and make some healthy lifestyle changes. We would encourage people to drink responsibly and stick to the recommended daily guidelines for the rest of the year. We advise heavy drinkers or people dependent on alcohol to speak with their GP before signing up to Sober October.
Lupus Awareness Month
All month
Lupus Awareness Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the disease amongst the public and medical profession as well as improving the understanding of the impact that lupus can have.
By making people more aware of lupus you can help control its impact. We need your help to raise awareness of lupus, its symptoms and the effects it can have on people's lives this Lupus Awareness Month
Pituary Awareness Month
All month
It is estimated that there are approximately 70,000 people with a pituitary condition in the United Kingdom. To meet the need for information and support The Pituitary Foundation was set up in 1994 and was subsequently registered as a charity in September 1996.
The Pituitary Foundation is a national support and information organisation for pituitary patients, their families, friends and carers. We are the UK's leading charity providing support to people affected by disorders of the pituitary gland such as acromegaly, Cushing's, prolactinoma, diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism.
National Hygiene Week
3rd October – 9th October
National Hygiene Week returns to help raise awareness about hygiene poverty and its impact on those pulled into poverty. Our 3rd annual National Hygiene Week will host a mix of activities bringing individuals, communities, businesses and thought leaders together to tackle hygiene poverty.
Dyspraxia Awareness Week
3rd October – 9th October
Dyspraxia, also known as developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), is a neurological condition that affects the brains ability to process information that results in disturbances in movements, planning, speech and learning new tasks/processing new information.
Dyspraxia can have adverse affects on ones fine and gross motor skills, handwriting, low muscle tone, articulation, learning new information, mental health, and more.
There are a number of symptoms and comorbidities that present with dyspraxia, unfortunately due to a lack of awareness, understanding and information available gaining a diagnosis and support can be difficult. We hope that Dyspraxia Magazine will help improve these issues.
Dyspraxia/DCD is formally recognised by international organisations including the World Health Organisation. Dyspraxia is distinct from other motor disorders such as cerebral palsy and stroke, and occurs across the range of intellectual abilities. Individuals may vary in how their difficulties present: these may change over time depending on environmental demands and life experiences, and will persist into adulthood.
Dyslexia Awareness Week
3rd October - 9th October
We will be celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Week with our theme of Breaking Through Barriers.
The theme this year will allow us to reflect on the barriers that those living with dyslexia often face, while also focusing on how individuals, organisations and the education system have continued to succeed and break through these obstacle
Backcare Awareness Week
3rd October – 7th October
Child Health Day
9th October
National Child Health Day is on the first Monday of every October where we show our support of children’s health, family, and those that work hard to help them. Family income is a major factor in the health of children both physically and mentally. Children from households below the poverty line have a higher obesity rate than those above it, and with the epidemic not slowing down, it’s clear that there’s more that we need to do.
Baby Loss Awareness Week
9th October – 15th October
Baby Loss Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to bring us together as a community and give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone.
During last year’s #WaveOfLight messages of remembrance and hope brought many people together. Take care of yourselves and know that we are here for you now and throughout the year. You are not alone.
National Coming Out Day
11th October
National Coming Out Day will continue to raise awareness for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, and champion the idea that homophobia thrives in silence. On this day, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ will “come out” (a term stemming from the phrase “come out of the closet”) to friends or family about their sexuality, which is a very big moment! Beyond this, the history of the LGBTQ+ movement is a beacon of light — its champions are honored, and it underlines the personal being political. It’s also a chance to celebrate the liberation spirit — many do this by waving flags associated with LGBTQ+ groups or donning pins.
National Work Life Week
10th October – 14th October
National Work Life Week is Working Families’ annual campaign to get both employers and employees talking about wellbeing at work and work-life balance. Employers can use the week to provide activities for staff, and to showcase their flexible working policies and practices.
Join the conversation using #WorkLifeWeek and tweet us @workingfamUK, and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to get the latest news including details of our webinar series throughout the week.
Restart a Heart Day
16th October
The Resuscitation Council UK along with the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, NHS Ambulance Service and Saving Lives for Scotland work together to help raise awareness of cardiac arrest and teach CPR.
In 2019, an amazing 291,000 were trained in CPR through Restart a Heart Day.
Why is it important?
Cardiac arrests have not stopped during the coronavirus pandemic. If you have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK you have less than a one in ten chance of surviving.
We want to change that by making sure that as many people as possible know that when someone collapses and stops breathing normally, it is important to quickly call 999, perform hands-only CPR and use a defibrillator. This gives mums, dads, sons, daughters and friends the best chance of surviving.
Hands-only CPR reduces your risk of catching an infection, and without intervention it’s unlikely the person in cardiac arrest will survive.
How can you get involved?
We're pleased that face-to-face training sessions are now permitted. We would encourage you to deliver your session in a method that is safe for you and your trainees.
Malnutrition Awareness Week
10th October – 17th October
Now in its fifth year, the UK Malnutrition Awareness Week (UKMAW) is where we invite you to promote your activities and join the conversations on social media throughout the year but even more so during this week.
You can send photos, blogs and anything that you would like to share to enquiries@malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk
UKMAW was co-founded in 2018, by the Malnutrition Task Force (MTF) and BAPEN with the aim of raising awareness and understanding the risks of preventable malnutrition across different sectors and settings, in local communities and with the general public and health and social care professionals.
International Brain Tumour Awareness Week
29th October – 5th November
The 16th International Brain Tumour Awareness Week will be held from Saturday, 29th October 2022 to Saturday 5th November 2022 inclusive. We know how challenging it is to organise activities this year because of the pandemic. But there are still things we can all do to raise awareness of brain tumours: for example, you could do a virtual walk; contact your local media and tell them your story; post awareness messages on social media; have a Zoom tea party or quiz with friends and family to raise funds for vital brain tumour research; organise an educational webinar about brain tumours; launch educational resources online; etc. Anything, no matter how small, which you can do to raise awareness of the particular challenges of a brain tumour diagnosis and the need for a special response and an increased research effort would be greatly appreciated by the international brain tumour community.
