Forthcoming Events
Deaf Awareness Week: 5 - 11 May
Date: Tuesday 05th May 2026 to Monday 11th May 2026
Time: 08.00 to 23.00
Deaf Awareness Week 2026 is a significant time dedicated to increasing public understanding of Deaf culture, history, and the challenges faced by the Deaf community. This week encourages individuals and organizations to participate in activities that promote better communication and greater inclusivity.
What is Deaf Awareness Week?
Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the Deaf community, their culture, and the specific communication needs of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of the Deaf community and to promote the rights of Deaf people worldwide.
2026 Deaf Awareness Week theme ‘Right to understand – Together, we break barriers’
2026 Deaf Awareness Week theme 'Right to understand - Together, we break barriers' - BATOD
Mental Health Awareness Week: 11 - 17 May 2026
Date: Monday 11th May 2026 to Sunday 17th May 2026
Time: 08.00 to 23.00
The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 is Action.
Our individual actions matter, and when we come together we are even more powerful. Taking even small actions can give us feelings of hope and make us feel less powerless.
Everyone has a role to play, and even small actions can make a big difference.
Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us
We’ve chosen Action as this year's theme because, while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too. Together, we’ve come a long way on mental health, but we can’t risk going backwards. There’s still much we can do to prevent people becoming unwell in the first place.
Volunteer Week; 1 - 7 June 2026
Date: Monday 01st June 2026 to Sunday 07th June 2026
Time: 8.00 to 23.00
Volunteers Week is a special annual celebration that shines a light on the remarkable contributions made by volunteers across the United Kingdom. This week-long event is an opportunity to recognise, appreciate, and thank the millions of people who generously give their time and skills to help others and support vital causes in their communities.
What is Volunteers Week?
Volunteers Week is a national campaign dedicated to celebrating the invaluable work of volunteers. Throughout the week, organisations, charities, and communities come together to acknowledge the positive difference that volunteers make every day. The event also promotes the spirit of volunteering, encouraging more people to get involved in supporting local and national initiatives. Activities during the week can range from thank-you events and award ceremonies to workshops and social gatherings, all aimed at recognising and inspiring volunteers.
Carers Week: 8 - 14 June
Date: Monday 08th June 2026 to Sunday 14th June 2026
Time: 09.00 to 23.30
Carers Week 2026, taking place from 8–14 June, focuses on building carer friendly communities and supporting unpaid carers across the UK.
What is Carers Week?
Carers Week is an annual campaign in the UK aimed at raising awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges faced by unpaid carers, and recognising their vital contribution to families and communities. A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend with a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or age-related needs. The campaign also helps people identify as carers and access support they may not have realised they needed.
The theme for Carers Week 2026 is "Building Carer Friendly Communities". This theme emphasises the importance of creating communities where carers are recognised, understood, and valued, and where support is integrated into everyday life. Carer friendly communities include services, spaces, and groups that empower carers and make a real difference to their wellbeing
Learning Disability Week 2026
Date: Monday 15th June 2026 to Sunday 21st June 2026
Time: 09.00 to 23.30
Learning Disability Week 2026 takes place from Monday 15 June to Sunday 21 June, with the theme “Do you see me?” focusing on visibility, inclusion, and valuing people learning disabilities.
What is Learning Disability Week?
Learning Disability Week is an annual campaign in the UK, held during the third week of June, to raise awareness about the experiences of people with learning disabilities and celebrate their contributions to society. A learning disability affects the way a person learns, understands, or processes information, making certain tasks more challenging. The week highlights both the achievements and the barriers faced by individuals with learning disabilities, aiming to foster inclusion, understanding, and equality.
Theme for 2026
The theme for 2026 is “Do you see me?”, which emphasizes the importance of being seen, heard, included, and valued. This theme was created by people with learning disabilities to build a movement of change, challenge societal barriers, and celebrate the contributions of individuals with learning disabilities.
Why It Matters
Learning Disability Week draws attention to health inequalities, social barriers, and access to services that people with learning disabilities often face. For example, individuals with learning disabilities may experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes and face challenges accessing healthcare, education, and employment. The week encourages society to reflect on these inequalities and take action to create a fairer, more inclusive environment.
Learning Disability Week | Mencap
Interested?
Call us on: 01325 489999 or Email us
How you can support us
As a local organisation we very much rely on the support of our local community. We support over 2,000 people every year to have greater choice and control and remove the barriers that disabled adults and children experience in their everyday lives. But we need YOUR help.