UK Charity Awareness Days Calendar
UK charity awareness days span every month of the year, from Dry January to Human Rights Day in December. This calendar guide lists the key dates by month, with quick context on what each one means and where to find out more. Use it to discover causes that matter to you, understand what each campaign is about and find opportunities to get involved throughout the year.
Whether you’re planning an awareness activity at work, organising a school event or exploring a cause you’d like to support, this calendar helps you see what’s happening throughout the year. Dates and campaign details can shift year to year, so it’s worth checking with organisers before planning activity around them
Jump to: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
You can also explore more causes here.
Key charity awareness days
Some awareness campaigns attract particularly high levels of interest each year. Here’s a closer look at four well-known dates in the calendar and the causes behind them.
Here are four well-known awareness campaigns and the causes behind them.
Below you can find information on what each one is, who’s behind it, and why people get involved.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day usually lands on the 3rd week of March each year. Red Nose Day is Comic Relief’s standout fundraising event, using comedy and entertainment to bring people together and raise money for projects tackling poverty and injustice in the UK and abroad. It’s been part of British culture since the 1980s, and it works because it brings people together through wearing red noses, taking on unique challenges, or sharing a moment of fun while supporting people facing hardship.
Find out more about the charity behind it on the Comic Relief page.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week runs during early or mid May. Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s theme is Action and covers practical steps people can take for themselves, for others, and for their wider communities. Mental Health Awareness Week isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about taking meaningful action, however small that might be. If this is a cause that’s close to you, you can find mental health causes to support any time of year here.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day usually falls during the second week of October. Where Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on a themed week of action, World Mental Health Day marks a single global day, established by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992 and backed by the World Health Organisation. The theme this year is Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change, putting people’s individual stories and experiences at the centre. It’s an opportunity to listen, learn more about mental health experiences and support mental health causes working year-round.
World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day 2026 takes place in early February. Led by the Union for International Cancer Control, World Cancer Day exists to close the gap between awareness, equitable care and support for everyone affected by cancer.
If this is a cause that’s meaningful to you, you can support health and medical causes working on it here.
UK charity awareness calendar by month
Every year is full of important awareness days, so here’s the full year at a glance. Every key date, grouped by month, so you can scan ahead or jump straight to what matters most to you.
January
Dry January, all month: Alcohol Change UK’s invitation to take a month off drinking and see how it feels, whatever your reasons for doing it. No pressure, no judgement.
World Braille Day, early January: This day celebrates Braille as a tool for communication and independence and raises awareness of the wider push for accessibility and equal rights for blind and partially sighted people. Find out more about disability causes.
International Day of Clean Energy, late January: A day centred around raising awareness and momentum towards transitioning to cleaner energy sources in a bid to slow climate change. Find out more about environmental causes.
Holocaust Memorial Day, late January: A day for remembrance, for learning from the past, and for standing against prejudice wherever it shows up today.
February
LGBT+ History Month, all month: A month to learn LGBT+ history, recognise the communities behind it, and support equality.
World Cancer Day, early February: A day that exists to bridge the gap between awareness, care and support for people affected by cancer. See the full spotlight above for more on this one.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, early February: This day is focused on ending FGM and protecting the health, safety, and rights of all girls and women.
Rare Disease Day, late February: Puts a spotlight on the millions of people living with rare diseases and advocates for better visibility, equity and support.
March
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, all month: A month for awareness, research and support around ovarian cancer, and for the people living with it. Find out more about other health and medical causes here.
International Women’s Day, early March: A global day focused on women’s rights and the continuing fight for gender equality worldwide.
Red Nose Day, mid- or late March: Comic Relief’s flagship fundraising event that uses comedy and entertainment to raise money for projects supporting people facing poverty and inequality. See the full spotlight above for more on this one.
World Down Syndrome Day, late March: Marked on 3/21 for the three copies of chromosome 21, this day is about inclusion, rights and participation for people with Down syndrome. Find out more about disability causes here.
April
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, all month: A month for raising awareness and supporting research into bowel cancer. Learn more about charities supporting this work.
World Autism Awareness Day, early April: This is a day about acceptance and inclusion for autistic people and their right to be understood on their own terms.
World Health Day, early April: This year’s WHO theme is ‘Together for health. Stand with science’, a call to back scientific evidence as the basis for better health for everyone. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
Earth Day, late April: A day for environmental protection and climate action, and for people coming together to push for wider change. Find out more about environmental causes here.
May
World Ovarian Cancer Day, early May:The global counterpart to March’s UK awareness month, focused on worldwide awareness and support. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
Mental Health Awareness Week, mid-May: A week dedicated to understanding how we can help ourselves and others with their mental health. See the full spotlight above for more on this.
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, mid-May: A day for equality, safety and dignity for LGBT+ people around the world.
World Bee Day, late May: Raises awareness for the vital role pollinators like bees play with regard to our biodiversity, food supply and environment. Find out more about environmental causes here.
June
World Environment Day, early June: Led by the UN, with Azerbaijan hosting in 2026 under the theme Climate action, this day focuses on environmental action. Find out more about environmental causes here.
Carers Week, early to mid June: Recognises unpaid carers and the huge contribution they make, and advocates for more accessible support for those that could benefit from it.
World Blood Donor Day, 14 June: A thank you to voluntary blood donors and a reminder of why a safe blood supply matters.
World Refugee Day, 20 June: Shines a light on the dignity, strength and experience of people who’ve been forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict, disaster or other circumstances that force people to leave their homes.
July
Disability Pride Month, all month: A month for disability identity, visibility and rights, and for celebrating disabled people on their own terms. Find out more about disability causes here.
Plastic Free July, all month: An invitation to cut single-use plastic for a month and see what sticks, as one part of much bigger environmental change. Find out more about environmental causes here.
Samaritans Awareness Day, late July: Raises awareness for the charity’s round-the-clock listening service in aid of suicide prevention. Find out more about mental health causes here.
World Hepatitis Day, late July: Focused on awareness, testing and prevention for hepatitis worldwide. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
August
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, early August: Recognises the rights, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples globally.
International Youth Day, mid August: Puts young people’s voices, participation and role in social change front and centre. Find out more about children and youth causes here.
World Humanitarian Day, mid to late August: Honours humanitarian workers and the people they support in crises around the world.
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, late August: A day for remembrance, education and learning from this period of history and how its legacy is still felt today.
September
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, all month: A month for supporting children and families affected by cancer and aiding the research and care that supports them. Find out more about children and youth causes here.
International Day of Charity, early September: A day marking the value of charitable giving and volunteering worldwide.
World Suicide Prevention Day, early September: This is a time for prevention, awareness and support, and a reminder that raising awareness encourages connection and helps people access support. Find out more about mental health causes here.
World Alzheimer’s Day, late September: Raises awareness of dementia, works to cut the stigma around it, and backs research and support. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
October
Black History Month UK, all month: A month for learning about Black history and culture and celebrating the contributions of Black people in the UK. This is also a month for understanding and confronting inequality that’s still with us in this country and worldwide.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all month: A month for awareness, research, care and support around breast cancer. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
Baby Loss Awareness Week, early to mid October: A week for remembering babies who’ve died and supporting the people who love them, with care and without judgement.
World Mental Health Day, early October: A day that strives to reduce stigma around mental health. Encourage people to open up to one another, and check in with friends or family who may be struggling. See the full spotlight above for more on this one.
November
Movember, all month: Movember encourages people to grow a moustache and start conversations about men’s health, covering mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
World Diabetes Day, mid November: A day for global awareness and advocacy around diabetes. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
World Children’s Day, late November: Puts children’s rights and their part in decisions that affect them at the forefront. Find out more about children and youth causes here.
White Ribbon Day, late November: Focused on ending men’s violence against women and girls.
Focused on preventing men’s violence against women and girls through education, accountability and cultural change. This day is focused on both prevention and accountability.
December
World AIDS Day, early December: For remembering people lost to AIDS, supporting people living with HIV, and pushing back on stigma. Find out more about health and medical causes here.
Giving Tuesday, early December: A global day for giving back, however that looks for you: donating, volunteering, sharing a skill or backing your community. Explore causes to find where to start.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, early December: Focused on rights, accessibility and participation for disabled people. Find out more about disability causes here.
Human Rights Day, early to mid December: This marks the day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the ongoing work of turning it into reality worldwide.
How to support a cause on an awareness day
You don’t need to be an expert to support a cause you care about. If a date in this calendar sparks your interest, start by learning more about the campaign and the people it aims to support.
If a date on this calendar catches your eye, start by learning more about the campaign and the people it supports.
Check what the organiser says about it, or look into a UK charity awareness day through a trusted source. From there, pick whatever fits you best. That might mean donating, fundraising, volunteering, or sharing something worth reading with people who’d be interested. Meaningful support can take many forms, whether that’s donating, fundraising, volunteering or sharing trusted information. Small actions can play an important part alongside long-term community support.
If any of these causes mean something to you, remember you can always stay connected to them beyond the awareness date.
Whoever you’re raising money for, your page could be the thing that changes their day, or even their life. Start your JustGiving page and share why it matters to you. Not sure where to begin? Browse our fundraising ideas to find the one that fits you best.
Charity awareness days: your questions answered
If you still have some questions about UK awareness days, take a look below for some quick answers:
How much did Red Nose Day raise in 2026?
Red Nose Day 2026 raised £30,004,040 overall, according to Comic Relief. On JustGiving, the main Red Nose Day 2026 campaign page recorded almost £199,000.
Where did Red Nose Day originate?
Comic Relief created Red Nose Day in the UK, and the first one ran in 1988, raising £15 million!
What are some creative ideas for Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day and Comic Relief centre their fundraising efforts on comedy and entertainment, so anything that uplifts others will do! That could include running a joke challenge, holding a bake sale, or wearing a silly outfit while you undertake a challenge or sponsored walk. Whatever you do, add a red nose to really get into the spirit.
How can I take part in Mental Health Awareness Week?
Take a look at the official website to find ways to organise an event or support mental health causes directly. Each year has a different theme.
When is Mental Awareness Week?
Mental Health Awareness Week usually takes place in mid-May each year. It’s a meaningful time to start a fundraiser, share your story, or host an event in support of mental health charities across the UK. Keep an eye on our site for exact dates and ways to get involved.
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