Tourette’s Awareness Month, 15th May – 15th June
Tourette Syndrome is part of a group of tic disorders. Those living with tics have motor or vocal tics for varying periods of time through their lives. https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/7-about-ts.html
Pride Month
Pride in London is a huge event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. It’s held as close to 1st July as possible to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. You can choose how you become involved, from marching, to volunteering, or as a supporting business.
https://prideinlondon.org/pride/
Pride Month means a huge amount to the LGBTQ+ community, and understanding some of the history of LGBTQ+ awareness and equality is critical to understanding Pride Month. https://www.activatelearning.ac.uk/news/a-proud-journey-the-history-of-the-pride-movement-in-the-uk/
Stillbirth and neonatal death
Camp Out for Sands encourages us to spend time camping out, even in your sitting room, the idea is to raise funds and awareness for the impact of stillbirth and neonatal death. https://www.sands.org.uk/get-involved/camp-out-sands
Tommy’s offers support for those who have suffered the loss of a baby during pregnancy or after their birth. Losing a baby can be devastating and incredibly difficult to talk about. https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support
March for Men
March for Men raises funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer. You can get involved across the country and marches are happening in the first weekend in June. https://prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/march-for-men
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. You can check your risk of prostate cancer by answering three quick questions. The risk for trans or non-binary people may be different. https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker
CHD
Coronary Heart Disease is restriction of blood flow to the heart due to a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries around it. This can be caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking, an unhealthy diet, or regular alcohol consumption.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/coronary-heart-disease
You can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, exercising, reducing alcohol consumption and taking your prescribed medications, along with keeping blood pressure and diabetes under control.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/prevention/
Volunteers’ Week, 1st – 7th
Volunteers’ Week celebrates the amazing contribution that volunteers make to communities across the UK. Our world would look very different if we didn’t have people who dedicate their time to helping others! https://volunteersweek.org/about-volunteers-week/
National Patient Participation Week, 3rd – 9th
If you’ve never considered becoming more involved with your GP practice, now is the time. Becoming a member of your Patient Participation Group can be really rewarding, and is an ideal volunteering opportunity for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
https://napp.org.uk/ppg-awareness-week-31-may-06-june-2023-your-practice-needs-you-2/
Have you considered joining our patient participation group? We’re always looking for people to support our groups. If you don’t know what’s involved, this handy guide can help fill you in. https://www.patients-association.org.uk/pages/category/patient-participation-groups
BNF Healthy Eating Week, 10th – 14th
During Healthy Eating Week, let’s take some time to think about what a healthy diet looks like, and how you can make sure you’re eating well. https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritional-information/
It can be difficult to know what a healthy diet looks like with so many easy food options available to us. The Eatwell Guide helps to illustrate what our plates should look like to ensure a well balanced and healthy diet. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/
Diabetes Week, 10th – 16th
The focus of this year’s Diabetes Week is health checks. Every diabetic across the country will be offered routine health checks to ensure you are staying healthy and well and that you’re able to get the most out of life.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-week
If you have diabetes it’s important to make time for your health checks. We offer these to make sure that you’re staying fit and well, and that your condition is well managed to ensure you stay healthy in the longer term. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/nhs/diabetes-health-checks.html
Men’s Health, 10th – 16th
This year the King shared news of health difficulties that he is facing. The focus of Men’s Health Week is honest sharing to help others. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved. https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw
Carers Week, 10th – 16th
Across the UK there are millions of unpaid carers who support family members and friends. Without this unseen support, many people who need support would have additional challenges in their lives. Carers are a vital source of support for many. https://www.carersweek.org/
Carers UK offers help, support and advice to carers across the UK. Carers provide essential support for the people that they care for, and we need to make sure we champion what they do. https://www.carersuk.org/
Bike Week, 10th – 16th
Bike Week this year has the theme “Be a Bike Hero”. Why? Because we know that that when more people cycle, we all become happier, healthier, greener and more connected. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek
World Blood Donor Day, 14th
Access to safe blood and blood products is vital for every nation. Across the world millions donate blood to help save others’ lives. Let’s celebrate the selfless contribution made by blood donors. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day
Blood donations are urgently needed. You can find out more about how donating your blood can save a life here. In fact, you could save up to three lives in one hour. https://www.blood.co.uk/
Cervical Screening, 17th – 23rd
Cervical screening is a vital tool in preventing cervical cancer. Cervical screening is generally a painless procedure, and it could save your life.
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/cervical-screening-awareness-week
Cervical cancer rates have increased in the 25-34 age group in the UK. Cervical screening can catch changes early. If you’ve never had a cervical screening test, you can find out more about what happens here. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/what-happens/
Learning Disability Week, 17th – 23rd
People with learning disabilities face discrimination and difficulty throughout their lives and “Do you see me?” is the theme of this year’s Learning Disability Week. The week aims to encourage us to carefully think about how we can minimise those challenges.
https://www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek
World Continence Week, 17th – 23rd
Urinary incontinence is a challenge, with around 14 million people in the UK thought to be affected. If you’re struggling with holding your pee, leakage when you’re coughing or laughing, or any other type of bladder weakness, please make a call to your GP practice. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-incontinence/
Children’s Hospice Week, 17th – 23rd
Children’s hospices provide vital support for seriously ill children and young people and their families across the nation. Without this vital support, many families would face greater challenges. Hospices need access to more funds to continue helping families, so please join us in raising awareness for this important cause.
https://www.togetherforshortlives.o…nitiatives-and-appeals/childrens-hospice-week
Autistic Pride, 18th
Autistic Pride Day celebrates the diverse perspectives of autistic people. A rainbow infinity symbol reflects the unique strengths and qualities of individuals on the autistic spectrum.
https://autisticprideday.org/
World Sickle Cell Day, 19th
Sickle cell disease is inherited when you receive a copy of a faulty gene from each of your parents. People who have sickle cell disease have blood cells that find it difficult to move through the blood vessels, this is often experienced as pain known as a sickle cell crisis. https://www.letstalksicklecell.co.uk/
National Clean Air Day, 20th
Air pollution is linked to 43,000 deaths in the UK each year. This is a shocking statistic and is something that we can all play a part in trying to resolve. https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/campaigns/clean-air-day
World Refugee Day, 20th June
World Refugee Day aims to champion the right of refugees to seek safety. It also aims to build support for their economic and social inclusion. Being forced to flee your home is devastating, and understanding and supportiveness is critical. https://www.unhcr.org/uk/world-refugee-day
MND awareness, 21st June
Motor Neurone Disease affects the nerves in your brain and spinal cord that tell your muscles what to do. Muscles may waste, weaken and stiffen, which can affect the way you move, walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. https://www.mndassociation.org/about-mnd/mnd-explained/what-is-mnd
World Allergy Week, 23rd – 29th
The focus of this year’s World Allergy Week is food allergies. Affecting many across the world, allergies can be life threatening, but there is much we can do to reduce risk and improve outcomes.
https://worldallergy.org/resources/world-allergy-week
Symptoms of a food allergy can vary from mildly annoying to life threatening. You may experience swelling or tingling skin, lips, tongue or throat. You may experience digestive symptoms, or skin reactions. If you are experiencing swelling of the throat, shortness of breath, or other potentially life-threatening symptoms, you should urgently seek advice. https://www.allergyuk.org/types-of-allergies/food-allergy/
Public Service Day, 23rd
Public Service Day aims to highlight the importance of and opportunity presented by public service careers. Healthcare, government, defence, transport, policing and fire service careers all serve the public, and we couldn’t manage without the dedicated individuals who serve within them. https://www.un.org/en/observances/public-service-day
Armed Forces Day, 24th
Our armed forces and their families make many personal sacrifices for the defence of our nation. Military careers are fulfilling and distinguished, and Armed Forces Day offers an opportunity to celebrate this.
https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/