Decembeard is an annual campaign in December that encourages individuals to grow or style their beards to support bowel cancer awareness. The campaign aims to raise funds for bowel cancer research and support, as well as to foster conversations around men’s health, a topic often neglected or shrouded in silence. 

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, and early detection saves lives. If you’re interested in participating, you can sign up for Decembeard and contribute to this important cause.

National Grief Awareness Week is a UK campaign that happens 2 to 8 December 2025. It aims to raise awareness of the support available for people experiencing grief and bereavement. Founded in 2014 by The Good Grief Trust, National Grief Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of grief, and to help to normalise conversations around it.

The theme for 2025 is ‘Growing with Grief’. The aim is to highlight how grief is an ending in many ways, but can also be the beginning of something new. The growth people may experience from grief doesn’t erase the pain, but can help people to become more present, compassionate and aware of what matters in life.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, will begin at sundown on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The holiday lasts for eight days, concluding after sundown on Monday, December 22, 2025. Hanukkah’s dates change annually because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle.

Traditions include lighting the menorah, playing with dreidels, and eating foods like latkes and sufganiyot. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight consecutive nights and features the lighting of a nine-stemmed candelabra called the menorah. The menorah differs from other candelabras because it includes an extra candle, called the shammes or shamash, used to light the other eight candles.

Each year, more than 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK. This type of cancer can affect people of all ages. Cervical cancer develops very slowly from abnormal cell changes in the cervix. Very early-stage cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms. It is usually found and treated because of cervical screening tests. 

If you get symptoms between your regular cervical screening appointments, do not wait for your next appointment. Talk to your GP or practice nurse and get checked. 

World Braille Day 2026 is the latest commemoration of this meaningful day. It aims to promote Braille literacy and emphasize the right of individuals with visual impairments to access information, education, and culture on an equal basis with others.

World Braille Day, celebrated on January 4th each year, honours the legacy and contributions of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille. This day also raises awareness about the importance of Braille as a tactile reading and writing system for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. World Braille Day serves as a reminder of the significance of accessibility and inclusion in education and information dissemination.

Energy Savers Week is an annual campaign aimed at promoting energy efficiency, reducing energy bills, and combating fuel poverty. 

During this week, various organisations and government agencies will provide resources and information to empower individuals to take control of their energy consumption and make informed decisions about energy usage.

Energy Saving Week is an awareness event dedicated to conserving energy and making others aware of the best ways to cut down on their usage. The event particularly focuses on raising public awareness of making homes more energy efficient and getting the best deal from your energy supplier to save not just money, but also our natural planet. 

Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25th. It commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on 25th January 1759. Also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, he was a Scottish poet and lyricist, widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.

Burns was born into a farming family and became a significant figure in the Romantic movement, influencing both liberalism and socialism. His life and poetry continue to be celebrated, with Burns Night being a global event honoring his contributions to Scottish culture and literature.