Will we Have “Lift Off”?
June 21st has been a date etched into everyone’s minds for the proposed lifting of restrictions across the country.
As we await confirmation of whether the government will follow through with their stated plan, don’t miss out on valuable opportunities to boost your PR presence in June:
1. Great British Spring Clean – 28 May to 13 June 2021
https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean
Keep Britain Tidy, a UK-based independent environmental charity, is launching a #MillionMileMission to clear litter from our streets, parks and beaches. With our outdoor spaces having held more importance than ever over the past year, what better time to get your organisation involved in showing some love for your surroundings and the special places which helped get you through lockdown? You can pledge to litter pick for a certain number of minutes and hours as an individual or as a group here. Keep Britain Tidy has all the advice and information you need to get started and their Covid-19 guidance is updated regularly.
2. National Volunteer Week – 1 to 7 June 2021
Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity to celebrate and thank the millions of people across the UK who give their time and energy to improve the lives of others. Are there any volunteers involved in your organisation, or do any of your workforce volunteer in their local communities or further afield? Why not take this opportunity to explore their stories, elevate their voices and shine a light on the vital contribution volunteers make in every part of society?
3. Restrictions lifting
It is hoped, though by no means guaranteed, that all remaining legal limits on social contact will be lifted on June 21. As the nation emerges with blinking eyes into some semblance of “normal” life again, make sure you don’t miss the chance to reflect on the past year, celebrate the achievements of your organisation and the people in it, and endeavour to come back bigger, brighter and better than ever before. Have you got plans or changes worth shouting about? Did you make any creative or unexpectedly successful adaptations to your work during the pandemic which you’ll carry forward? Will a return to the workplace create opportunities for rebuilding social and community spirit within your organisation and beyond? Don’t shy away from spreading the word about what’s going on.
4. World Environment Day – 5 June 2021
#generationrestroration
World Environment Day, which falls on 5 June, marks the official launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global push to revive natural spaces lost to development. With its “10 years to restore our planet. 10 actions that count.” campaign, the United Nations is encouraging all of us to take urgent, practical action to invest in nature and our environment in order to divert a global ecological crisis. How can your organisation contribute to this global effort? Can you create your own list of 10 commitments or actions, or make practical pledges for incorporating the UN’s recommendations? Are sustainability, restoration and a focus on the environment already at the heart of your work? Make sure your “green credentials” are up to scratch, and share your priorities and stories far and wide.
5. Men’s Health Week – 14 to 21 June 2021
“Men, Mental Health and Covid 19”
Everybody's mental health has been challenged by the lockdowns and insecurities of the last year and it's not over yet. As we emerge from what we hope will be the worst of the pandemic, questions, concerns and anxieties remain. The Men’s Health Forum asks: how do we move forward?
Why not take the chance to encourage your workforce, whatever their gender, to reflect on the impact of Covid 19 on their mental wellbeing and open up conversations? Can you create opportunities for those in your organisation to invest in their mental health?
As a starting point, take a look at the forum’s “CAN DO” Challenge – five things we can all do that are scientifically proven to help us feel better. With a different focus (and hashtag!) for each day of Men’s Health Week, blaze a trail with your organisation’s approach to building back better with the mental wellbeing of everyone in your community at the very heart of moving forward.