Equality, diversity and inclusion policy
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 dates
January
1 New Year’s Day / Hogmanay
4 World Braille Day
15 World Religion Day
22 Chinese New Year
27 Holocaust Memorial Day
February
LGBT History Month
1 World Hijab Day
4 World Cancer Day
6–12 Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
6–12 Race Equality Week
6–12 National Apprenticeship Week
March
Women’s History Month
3 Employee Appreciation Day
6–11 National Careers Week
8 International Women’s Day
13–19 Neurodiversity Celebration Week
19 Mother’s Day UK
20 International Day of Happiness
21 International Day for the Elimination of Race Discrimination
21 World Down Syndrome Day
23 National Day of Reflection
31 Transgender Day of Visibility
April
Stress Awareness Month
World Autism Acceptance Month
2 World Autism Awareness Day
7 World Health Day
8 International Romani Day
23 Lesbian Visibility Day
May
1–7 Deaf Awareness Week
2–8 Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
12 Global Accessibility Awareness Day
15–21 Mental Health Awareness Week
15 International Day of Families
17 International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
June
LGBTQI+ Pride Month
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
1 Global Day of Parents
3 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikhism)
5 Pentecost (Christian)
5 Shavuot (Judaism)
6–12 Carer's Week
18 Autistic Pride Day
18 Father's Day
19–25 Learning Disability Week
19–25 Refugee Week
20 World Refugee Day
21 International Father's Mental Health Day
21 Midsummer Solstice (Paganism)
22 Windrush Day
23 International Women in Engineering Day
26–3 July Deaf Blind Awareness Week
July
Disability Pride Month
International Women with Alopecia Month
7–12 Hajj/Pilgrimage (Islam)
10 Eid al Adha (Islam)
13 Dhamma Day (Buddhism)
18 Jul–17 Aug South Asian Heritage Month
26 Jun–2 Jul DeafBlind Awareness Week
14 International Non-Binary People Day
22 Al-Hijra/Islamic New Year (Islam)
24 International Self Care Day
August
18 Jul–17 Aug South Asian Heritage Month
1 Lammas/Lughnasadh (Paganism)
2 Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
6 Tisha B’Av (Judaism)
9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
11 Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)
12 International Youth Day
18 Krishna Janmashtami – Hindu
23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
September
World Alzheimer's Month
6 Colour Blind Awareness Day
10 World Suicide Prevention Day
15 World Afro Day
18–24 International Week of Happiness at Work
18 International Equal Pay Day
23 Celebrate Bisexuality Day
October
Black History Month
Global Diversity Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Menopause Awareness Month
1 International Day of Older Persons
4–10 Dyslexia Awareness Week
4–5 Yom Kippur
6 World Cerebral Palsy Day
7–14 National Work Life Week
10 World Mental Health Day
10 World Homeless Day
10–11 Sukkot (Judaism)
11 National Coming Out Day
13 World Sight Day
15–21 Invisible Disabilities Week
18 International Pronouns Day
18 World Menopause Day
20 Wear Red to Work Day
22 International Stuttering Awareness Day
24 Diwali (Hindu)
26 Intersex Awareness Day
30 Oct –3 Nov International Stress Awareness Week
31 All Hallows’ Eve (Christian)
November
Men’s Health Awareness Month
16 Nov–15 Dec UK Disability History Month
1 National Stress Awareness Day
1 All Saints Day (Christian)
2 All Souls’ Day (Christian)
2 El Dia de los Muertos (Latin America)
13 UK Interfaith Week begins
13–19 Transgender Awareness Week
16 International Day of Tolerance
19 International Men’s Day
20 Transgender Day of Remembrance
25 International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women
27 Advent Sunday (Christian)
December
16 Nov–15 Dec UK Disability History Month
1 World AIDS Day
2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
10 Human Rights Day
18 International Migrants Day
19 Chanukah begins (Judaism)
24 Christmas Eve (Christian)
25 Christmas (Christian)
26 Kwanzaa begins
January
1 New Year’s Day / Hogmanay
4 World Braille Day
15 World Religion Day
22 Chinese New Year
27 Holocaust Memorial Day
February
LGBT History Month
1 World Hijab Day
4 World Cancer Day
6–12 Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
6–12 Race Equality Week
6–12 National Apprenticeship Week
March
Women’s History Month
3 Employee Appreciation Day
6–11 National Careers Week
8 International Women’s Day
13–19 Neurodiversity Celebration Week
19 Mother’s Day UK
20 International Day of Happiness
21 International Day for the Elimination of Race Discrimination
21 World Down Syndrome Day
23 National Day of Reflection
31 Transgender Day of Visibility
April
Stress Awareness Month
World Autism Acceptance Month
2 World Autism Awareness Day
7 World Health Day
8 International Romani Day
23 Lesbian Visibility Day
May
1–7 Deaf Awareness Week
2–8 Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
12 Global Accessibility Awareness Day
15–21 Mental Health Awareness Week
15 International Day of Families
17 International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
June
LGBTQI+ Pride Month
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
1 Global Day of Parents
3 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikhism)
5 Pentecost (Christian)
5 Shavuot (Judaism)
6–12 Carer's Week
18 Autistic Pride Day
18 Father's Day
19–25 Learning Disability Week
19–25 Refugee Week
20 World Refugee Day
21 International Father's Mental Health Day
21 Midsummer Solstice (Paganism)
22 Windrush Day
23 International Women in Engineering Day
26–3 July Deaf Blind Awareness Week
July
International Women with Alopecia Month
7–12 Hajj/Pilgrimage (Islam)
10 Eid al Adha (Islam)
13 Dhamma Day (Buddhism)
18 Jul–17 Aug South Asian Heritage Month
26 Jun–2 Jul DeafBlind Awareness Week
14 International Non-Binary People Day
22 Al-Hijra/Islamic New Year (Islam)
24 International Self Care Day
August
18 Jul–17Aug South Asian Heritage Month
1 Lammas/Lughnasadh (Paganism)
2 Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
6 Tisha B’Av (Judaism)
9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
11 Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)
12 International Youth Day
18 Krishna Janmashtami – Hindu
23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
September
World Alzheimer's Month
6 Colour Blind Awareness Day
10 World Suicide Prevention Day
15 World Afro Day
18–24 International Week of Happiness at Work
18 International Equal Pay Day
23 Celebrate Bisexuality Day
October
Black History Month
Global Diversity Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Menopause Awareness Month
1 International Day of Older Persons
4–10 Dyslexia Awareness Week
4–5 Yom Kippur
6 World Cerebral Palsy Day
7–14 National Work Life Week
10 World Mental Health Day
10 World Homeless Day
10–11 Sukkot (Judaism)
11 National Coming Out Day
13 World Sight Day
15–21 Invisible Disabilities Week
18 International Pronouns Day
18 World Menopause Day
20 Wear Red to Work Day
22 International Stuttering Awareness Day
24 Diwali (Hindu)
26 Intersex Awareness Day
30 Oct –3 Nov International Stress Awareness Week
31 All Hallows’ Eve (Christian)
November
Men’s Health Awareness Month
16 Nov–15 Dec UK Disability History Month
1 National Stress Awareness Day
1 All Saints Day (Christian)
2 All Souls’ Day (Christian)
2 El Dia de los Muertos (Latin America)
13 UK Interfaith Week begins
13–19 Transgender Awareness Week
16 International Day of Tolerance
19 International Men’s Day
20 Transgender Day of Remembrance
25 International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women
27 Advent Sunday (Christian)
December
16 Nov–15 Dec UK Disability History Month
1 World AIDS Day
2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
10 Human Rights Day
18 International Migrants Day
19 Chanukah begins (Judaism)
24 Christmas Eve (Christian)
25 Christmas (Christian)
26 Kwanzaa begins
To suggest additional EDI related dates, please contact inclusion@essex.ac.uk
Report and Support service
If you feel that you are being subjected to harassment or bullying in any form, there is help available to you at the University through our Report and Support service. We have appointed and trained a network of Harassment Support Workers who will listen to you and offer advice and support.
