Equality and Diversity Community fund

Each year we support a range of events and projects to celebrate and promote equality and diversity within the borough.

Charities and community groups play an important role in delivering these events. One of the aims of the Borough Manifesto is greater community cohesion and ensuring that change in our community is resident led.

The Equality and Diversity Community Fund allows local charities and community groups to take a greater role in delivering events related to the Barking and Dagenham Equality and Diversity Calendar, creating new and engaging projects that will benefit our residents. These projects should promote social inclusion, celebrate diversity, and support equality through providing opportunities for people with protected characteristics. Further information on protected characteristics can be found on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.

Applications

We hold three rounds for the Equality & Diversity Community Funding every year, applications will only be accepted during the application window for each round.

1 February - applications open

  • early March - panel meets
  • mid-March - applicants informed of decision

1 June - applications open

  • early July - panel meets
  • mid July - applicants informed of decision

1 October - applications open

  • early November - panel meets
  • mid November - applicants informed of decision

When open, applications can be made on the One Borough Voice website (you’ll need to create an account for your application).

If you would like a MS Word version of the application form, please contact the team at email CE-strategy@lbbd.gov.uk.

E&D Fund Guidance (PDF, 279.55 KB) provides further information to help support you with your application.

Equality and diversity calendar 2026

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 2026

January

27 January – Holocaust Memorial Day

February

LGBT+ History Month

17 February (tentative) – Ramadan begins

March

Women’s Empowerment Month

4 March – Holi

8 March – International Women’s Day

9 March – Commonwealth Day

20 March (tentative) – Eid al-Fitr

31 March – International Transgender Day of Visibility

April

1 – 9 April – Passover

2 April – World Autism Awareness Day

3 April – Good Friday

5 April – Easter Sunday

14 April – Vaisakhi

22 April – Stephen Lawrence Day

23 April – St George’s Day

May

17 May – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia

27 May (tentative) – Eid al-Adha

June

9 to 15 June – Carers Week

22 June – Windrush Day

July

11 July – Srebrenica Memorial Day

18 July to 17 August – South Asian Heritage Month

August

18 July to 17 August – South Asian Heritage Month

September

15 to 21 September – National Inclusion Week

October

Black History Month

9 to 15 November – Baby Loss Awareness Week

18 October – World Menopause Day

November

Islamophobia Awareness Month

8 November – Diwali

9 to 16 November – Interfaith Week

13 to 19 November – Transgender Awareness Week

20 November – Transgender Day of Remembrance

25 November – 10 December – White Ribbon Day followed by 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

December

December

3 December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

4 to 12 December – Hanukkah

25 December – Christmas Day