Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 2025/2026

Monthly News - March 2026

Atheist Day

Atheist Day is an observance day which offers an opportunity for those who do not believe in a god or deity, to engage in discussion about their perspective on life, and encourage understanding and knowledge about atheism.

A 2024 ‘Explaining Atheism’ study noted the rise in atheism in the UK and found the reasons behind this and ‘unbelief’ globally were unrelated to stereotypes linking negative life experiences to absolution from religion.

It is estimated around 7% of the world’s population are atheists and the day can be used to highlight the discrimination atheists can face in many parts of the world and call for respect and acceptance within communities. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 legally protects atheists from discrimination under the protected characteristic of religion or belief, including lack of religion or belief. There are instances where it may be lawful to treat people differently due to religion or belief, such as specific situations to provide or receive faith-based services. Nevertheless, this applies to atheist groups too, for example it may be lawful to restrict selected employment opportunities in organisations with an ethos based in the belief if the nature or the context of the work demands it.

Atheist Day is a great opportunity to learn more about the how the legal protection of atheists differ across the world and how the international law on human rights varies in practice.

What this Day means to me:

Atheism, to me at least, is not simply a rejection of the faith that a god or multiple gods exist, but a belief that moral values and our sense of ethics are derived from human nature itself and humanity’s natural, evolutionary sense of unity and community and social connection with our fellow human beings, regardless of our individual beliefs.

Rather than deriving my moral principles from faith in a god or gods, mine are a result of my personal reasoning, our shared human values and my love & respect for other human beings. I believe in the agency of human beings to decide our own fates, rather than have this set out for us by an omnipotent deity. I wish to share and learn from the entirety of human knowledge, making my own choices to live my life based upon what I have learnt in every day of my existence.

Ultimately, I want to leave the world a better place and live a decent life not through fear of eternal punishment or faith in an individual eternal reward, but because I believe it is the right thing to do as a member of a wider community, regardless of what we get out of it at the end of our lives.

Jason, Disability and inclusion Advisor

2025/2026 calendar

Our EDI calendar can help create an inclusive work and study environment, it can also inspire students, staff and visitors to take part in key celebrations and/or remembrance events.

The calendar highlights faith days observed or celebrated, key diversity days, awareness raising dates and public holidays.

It also focuses on the six main religions as identified in the Census of England and Wales; Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, All other religions and beliefs not included on the calendar are equally as valued and considered across our work.

Please note: The dates in the calendar were correct at the time of publication in December 2025.

To provide feedback on the calendar, please contact [email protected]