Skip to content

Awareness events

Published
For 2026, Gloucestershire’s SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership plans to work in co-production with services and local partners from the SEND voluntary and community sector to bring information on awareness events around Gloucestershire. Here the team details information on Braille Literacy Month, the forthcoming Parent Mental Health Day and Children’s Mental Health Week.
A calendar for 2026 on a yellow background

Awareness events are organised activities or campaigns designed to increase public understanding and knowledge about a specific issue, cause, or community. They aim to inform, educate, and hopefully inspire action or support.  There is usually an intention to reduce stigma, empower and equip children, young people, families, schools, and communities by providing accessible resources and encouraging meaningful engagement on the subject of the event.

Awareness events taking place during this month and early next

Braille Literacy Month - January 2026

January is Braille Literacy Month in many parts of the world, as the United Nations marked 4 January as World Braille Day.

Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially-sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font.

As well as honouring Louis Braille’s legacy (who was born on 4 January), this month aims to educate people about the importance and advantages of Braille literacy. Braille Awareness Week also usually runs every year in October as well. 

Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO) in Gloucestershire

Louise Birt and Gary Learmouth are the Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO) at Gloucester Hospitals Trust.  As ECLOs, Louise and Gary provide information, emotional support and advice if you, or your child or young person, have a condition which affects sight. As ECLOs, Louise and Gary can also help while you’re waiting for your diagnosis.

Louise and Gary provide listening ears for everyone with a condition affecting their sight, helping them move forward with confidence. Louise and Gary also provide information to help you and your child or young person) understand a condition, and details about support and services that are available to help with your everyday life and wellbeing. ECLOs also support family, friends and Carers.

For more information, please contact:

And for more information on vision loss and blindness, please visit the Physical Health – Eyesight section of Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND where you will find signposting to Gloucestershire-based services and charities and Gloucestershire branches of national charities.

Parent Mental Health Day - Friday, 30 January 2026

Parent Mental Health Day highlights the importance of Parent Carers’ mental well-being and its impact on family dynamics.

This year’s theme is ‘Balance’ — focusing on how parents and carers manage their own mental health alongside supporting their families.

For more information, please visit the Parent Carer Community Support section of Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND, where Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum also signposts advice and guidance.

National Storytelling Week - Saturday, 31 January to Sunday, 8 February 2026

See the article from the Specialist Teaching and Educational Psychology Service.

Children’s Mental Health Week - Monday, 9 to Sunday, 15 February 2026

Children’s Mental Health Week is an annual campaign which aims to shine a spotlight on children’s and young people’s mental health. This year’s theme is ‘This is my Place’, and the objective is to support the systems around children and young people to help them feel they belong. Resources are now available for families to download.

On Your Mind Glos is a place for children and young people to turn to when they need help and support with their mental health but aren’t sure where to go. 

For links to resources for families to download for Children's Mental Health Week 2026 and to access the anonymous Mental Health Support Finder, to help anyone aged 0-25 find the most appropriate support options in Gloucestershire, please visit the Mental Health section of Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND.

Back to newsletter