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Learning My Way L2-4 Skills, Behaviours and Personal Development

Embracing Our Diversity

Q3 2026

Introduction

Welcome to your quarterly Embracing Diversity page.

Here, you will find a variety of resources in different formats to help you broaden your understanding of diversity, inclusion and culture.

This page is refreshed each quarter with content reflecting global diversity and key awareness events. It is designed to offer useful insights, encourage reflection and promote meaningful conversations around identity, culture and lived experience.

While this page cannot cover every perspective or experience, we hope it serves as a valuable starting point for learning, reflection and discussion.

We would love to hear from you. Please share your honest perspectives by taking our brief learner survey. Your feedback helps us continue building a more welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment where all learners can thrive academically and personally.

Make your voice heard – take the survey now.

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Diversity Calendar

There is a vast array of different aspects that we can consider this quarter, and we have selected a few key themes for you, but this is not an exhaustive list by any means...

July

July is Disability Pride Month

1st July – 31st July – South Asian Heritage Month
14th July – International Non-Binary People’s Day
18th July – Nelson Mandela International Day
24th July – Samaritans Awareness Day (24/7)

August

August is Intersectionality Awareness Month

9th August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
19th August – World Humanitarian Day
23rd August – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
31st August – International Day for People of African Descent

September

September is East and South-East Asian Heritage Month

10th September – World Suicide Prevention Day
18th September – International Equal Pay Day
21st September – World Alzheimer’s Day
23rd September – Bi Visibility Day

Watch

For those of you who prefer to watch here, you will find a range of videos covering; International Non-Binary People's Day, South Asian Heritage Month, What does “intersectionality” mean? and more topics that coincide with this quarter.

How Do I Know If I'm Non-Binary (or Trans)?

What Is Disability Pride Month & Why It Matters More Than Ever!

South Asian Heritage Month

How did South African Apartheid happen, and how did it finally end?

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

What does “intersectionality” mean?

Deaf in a hearing world

Religion and LGBTQ Impact

Why is bisexual visibility so important?

Read

If you prefer to read, here you will find a range of articles relating to some of the Equality and Diversity Calendar dates from July to September.

Disability Pride Month | Disability charity Scope UKWe celebrate Disability Pride Month every July. It’s an important moment for disabled people to come together as a community. An opportunity to share experiences and start conversations.

International Slavery Remembrance DayExplore the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition at the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House

Recognize Bi Visibility Day — CultureAlly Recognize Bi Visibility Day at work with resources & communications template for employees

International Equal Pay Day - BFWGInternational Equal Pay Day, celebrated on 18 September, represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations’ commitment to human rights and against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls. Across all regions, women are paid less than men, […]

Nelson Mandela Day 2026Mandela Day is marked every year on Nelson Mandela's 18 July birthday. Making every day a Mandela Day celebrates Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples | United NationsSite on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Here you will find information and related links.

Finding pride in your autistic identityAmbitious about Autism is the national charity for children and young people with autism. We provide services, raise awareness and understanding, and campaign for change. Through TreeHouse School, The Rise School and Ambitious College we offer specialist education and support.

Faith and ReligionA space to explore what it’s like to be LGBT+ and have a religion, faith or belief.

About the South Asian Heritage Month - South Asian Heritage TrustSouth Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) first took place in 2020. The global observance now runs from the 1st of July to the 31st of July each year. SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities.

National Inclusion Week | Days Of The YearEmbracing diversity in all its forms, and fostering environments where every individual feels valued and heard.

IntersectionalityIntersectionality is the acknowledgement that everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and oppression and that we must consider everything and anything that can marginalise people.

The gender pay gapFind out about the gender pay gap in the UK and around the world, statistics, why the gender pay gap exists, and its consequences for women and girls worldwide.

Listen

For those of you who prefer to listen, we have gathered a range of podcasts exploring disability, identity, mental wellbeing and inclusion.

As you listen, reflect on the perspectives and lived experiences being shared, and consider how these insights could help create more inclusive environments.

Do

If learning by doing works best for you, explore these activities designed to help you reflect, take action and deepen your understanding of this quarter’s diversity themes.

July

Attend a Local Disability Pride Event
Find parades, art exhibitions or talks in your area. Many UK towns and cities host inclusive events throughout July. Check community centres or Disability Pride Month UK page for local events.
Learn Basic British Sign Language (BSL)
Start with free lessons at British-sign.co.uk and challenge yourself, friends or classmates to learn greetings and names.
Host a “Barrier Walk” or Inclusion Audit
After listening to the BBC Access All episode on the stalled BSL GCSE, identify barriers in your environment and one change that could improve accessibility.

Join a South Asian Heritage Month Event
Find food fairs, dance performances, or storytelling sessions at southasianheritage.org.uk or host your own celebration with friends, family or fellow learners.
Explore Indigenous Voices
Read, watch or listen to content created by Indigenous communities to better understand their history, culture and lived experiences. Start by exploring stories and resources from Survival International.
Run an Intersectionality Reflection Workshop
Use case studies to explore how overlapping identities affect lived experience. Check Mission Diverse for templates.

August

September

Join World Alzheimer’s Month Campaigns
Volunteer, donate or help raise awareness by supporting World Alzheimer’s Month campaigns and initiatives via Alzheimer’s International
Celebrate Bi Visibility Day (23 Sept)
Spotlight bi+ voices in your learning environment, workplace or community. Share stories, explore resources or start meaningful conversations about inclusion and visibility. Explore guidance from Stonewall

Mark International Equal Pay Day (18 Sept)
Take time to learn more about pay equity and reflect on why equal pay remains an important issue globally. Consider what fairness looks like in education, work and wider society. Learn more by exploring facts and figures from UN Women

Global Diversity

When people think of diversity, they may think first of ethnicity and race, and then gender. However, diversity is much broader than that.

We’ve put together a collection of resources for you to further explore and broaden your knowledge.

Here, you will find a range of video content; articles; recipe ideas to tantalize your taste buds and much more to give insights into different cultures and beliefs.

Exploring different cultures and understanding how diverse we really are, does help us to better understand and appreciate the diversity among us.

We hope you enjoy these pages as much as we have enjoyed putting them together and learning more about Global Diversity.

Visit Kaplan’s page on Equality & Diversity: https://kaplan.co.uk/about/equality-diversity

Diversity & Inclusion doesn't start with me or with you, it starts with EVERYONE

Embracing Our DiversityV3.avi

Useful links

If you have any questions relating to EDI, then please contact us at edi@kaplan.co.uk.

https://diversityuk.org/about-us/ - Diversity UK is an equality charity that aims to research, advocate and promote ideas for improving diversity and inclusion in Britain.

Ethnicity facts and figures The data measures the ethnic diversity of England and Wales by region and type of area, for example, urban and rural.

https://www.stonewall.org.uk/ - We empower LGBT people to be their authentic selves, enabling them to realise and achieve their full potential, and we empower LGBT people and allies to create positive change.

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/cultural-diversity Reading list of recommended books by Good Reads

What are the Protected Characteristics?

It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of "protected characteristics" at work, in education, as a consumer and in other settings due to the Equality Act 2010

The nine protected characteristics are:

age
gender reassignment
being married or in a civil partnership
being pregnant or on maternity leave
disability
race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation

Find out more here

Discrimination: your rightsIt is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of their sex, religion, disability or certain other personal characteristics ('protected characteristics')

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