September marks one of the most powerful seasonal shifts of the year. Across the UK, US, and many global regions, it signals the start of a new school term — and with it comes a renewed sense of structure, learning, and planning.

Whether you’re speaking to students, families, employees, or communities, September is a time of high intent. Routines are re-established. Goals are reset. Audiences re-engage after summer.

For campaign planners, educators, internal comms leads, and nonprofit teams, it’s an ideal window to:

• Launch initiatives linked to wellbeing, learning, inclusion or youth empowerment
• Support transitions — from back-to-work campaigns to back-to-school outreach
• Align marketing and comms activity with themes that matter across sectors

This toolkit brings together some of the most relevant awareness days observed in September – including international, UK and US-focused events – grouped by theme for easier campaign planning.

Use this guide to:

• Anchor your September strategy in literacy, wellbeing, health education and sustainability
• Reach multiple audiences with timely, purpose-led messaging
• Align internal comms, marketing, PR, education, and outreach activity
• Launch campaigns that are timely, flexible and audience-aligned

Explore more campaign moments with the Awareness Days Planner

Theme 1: Literacy and Learning

The return to school – whether in the UK, US, or globally – brings literacy back into focus. From early years reading habits to adult literacy support and workplace learning, this theme offers cross-sector potential and cultural resonance.

Key Awareness Days:

• National Read a Book Day – 6 September (US-origin, widely used globally)
• International Literacy Day – 8 September (UNESCO event, globally recognised)

Who Should Use This Theme:

• Schools, education trusts, universities
• Public libraries, literacy charities, publishers
• Employers and HR/L&D teams
• NGOs and advocacy groups focused on literacy, equity or youth development

Campaign Angles and Ideas:

For Schools and Educators:

• Organise “Drop Everything and Read” events or virtual author visits
• Build term-start reading challenges linked to curriculum goals
• Engage students in creating book trailers or themed reviews

For Employers and Internal Comms Teams:

• Launch workplace reading clubs with inclusive themes
• Highlight literacy as part of continuous learning and employee development
• Partner with adult education providers or charities supporting literacy access

For Marketers and Comms Professionals:

• Curate brand-relevant reading lists (e.g. sustainability, leadership, equity)
• Collaborate with authors or influencers for social takeovers
• Run campaigns inviting users to share “The Book That Changed My Life”

Format Suggestions:

• Instagram Reels, TikToks, or YouTube Shorts featuring reading challenges
• Internal Teams/Slack book club threads or staff-led discussion groups
• Downloadable reading planners or themed bookmarks
• Email campaigns tied to International Literacy Day with partner content

Tip: Link reading to broader impact – from mental health benefits to digital literacy and confidence building.

Theme 2: Mental Health and Emotional Support

As routines reset in September, mental health becomes especially important — for students navigating transitions, employees rebalancing after holidays, and parents juggling work-life schedules. Campaigns in this space can be impactful, inclusive, and highly shareable.

Key Awareness Day:

• Youth Mental Health Day – 19 September (UK)
  While UK-based, the theme resonates globally and complements other international mental health dates.

Who Should Use This Theme:

• Schools, universities, student support teams
• Employers and HR departments
• Youth organisations, charities, and community programmes
• Health and wellbeing providers (apps, insurers, coaches)

Campaign Angles and Ideas:

For Schools and Youth Organisations:

• Empower student voice: invite young people to share “What mental health means to me”
• Create safe spaces for conversation: host classroom discussions or virtual check-ins
• Run themed PSHE lessons or mindfulness sessions in September

For Employers and Internal Comms:

• Host “Back to Work Wellbeing” sessions focused on burnout, transitions, or goal-setting
• Relaunch or promote mental health support offerings (EAPs, apps, training)
• Encourage open conversations among teams using daily prompts or stories

For Marketers and Nonprofits:

• Publish guides, toolkits, or blog posts on how to support young people’s emotional wellbeing
• Partner with mental health influencers or charities for campaign visibility
• Use inclusive imagery and accessible language to reduce stigma

Format Suggestions:

• Short-form videos on mental health habits (e.g. journaling, deep breathing, digital detox)
• Carousel posts or internal graphics explaining stress signals and support options
• Staff or student-led podcast episodes or blog posts
• Community events like wellbeing fairs or student panels

Tip: Tie this theme into other wellbeing events — e.g. World Mental Health Day (10 October) — to build a campaign arc across Q3–Q4.

Theme 3: Health Education and Safeguarding

Health awareness is a vital part of education and community engagement, especially as students return to school and staff reset their routines. September offers opportunities to raise awareness of physical health, preventative care, and life-saving behaviours.

Key Awareness Days:

• Organ Donation Week – early September (UK)
  Backed by NHS Blood and Transplant, with growing global visibility.
• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – September (Global)
• School Safeguarding Week – variable by region

Who Should Use This Theme:

• Health educators and school nurses
• HR teams focused on employee wellbeing
• Safeguarding leads and school administrators
• Charities and campaigners in healthcare or family support

Campaign Angles and Ideas:

For Schools and Colleges:

• Run assemblies or PSHE classes on organ donation and healthy choices
• Invite guest speakers from health charities to raise awareness
• Launch peer support or first aid clubs

For Employers and Wellbeing Leads:

• Use Organ Donation Week to share personal stories or relevant policy updates
• Run internal health campaigns on topics like cancer awareness, screenings, or first aid
• Offer health checks or wellbeing drop-ins during the month

For Campaigners and Healthcare Comms Teams:

• Use September to share patient stories, campaign updates, and fundraising events
• Provide schools with toolkits and campaign packs to distribute in their communities

Format Suggestions:

• Awareness videos or personal story reels on social media
• Assemblies, pop-up clinics or awareness stands in schools or offices
• Internal newsletter features or wellbeing round-ups
• Partner packs for schools, sponsors, or local media

Tip: Frame safeguarding and health campaigns as empowerment, not fear — use relatable stories and inclusive language.

Theme 4: Sustainability and Responsibility

As environmental issues become increasingly central to education and organisational values, September offers a meaningful moment to promote sustainability and personal responsibility. It’s an ideal time to engage younger audiences and eco-conscious consumers — and to align internal practices with public messaging.

Key Awareness Day:

• Recycle Week – late September (UK)
  Led by WRAP, with growing adoption across schools, workplaces, and local government.

Who Should Use This Theme:

• Schools and student eco clubs
• CSR and sustainability teams
• Local councils and public sector communicators
• Retailers, manufacturers, and brands with sustainability goals

Campaign Angles and Ideas:

For Schools and Youth Programmes:

• Run waste audits or recycling competitions in class or year groups
• Create student-designed posters or videos for Recycle Week
• Launch school-wide challenges to reduce single-use items

For Employers and Internal Teams:

• Highlight sustainability initiatives in office (e.g. green travel, energy use)
• Run a “Sustainable September” with daily tips or challenges
• Host internal webinars on circular economy or responsible business

For Comms, CSR and Campaign Teams:

• Share behind-the-scenes content on how your organisation manages waste or sourcing
• Partner with local schools or councils on community clean-up efforts
• Run giveaways tied to sustainable behaviours or product swaps

Format Suggestions:

• Time-lapse videos showing recycling or re-use projects
• Interactive checklists or “how sustainable are you?” quizzes
• Community toolkits or branded resources for schools and staff
• Staff-led stories about small changes that made a difference

Tip: Focus on progress, not perfection — campaigns that showcase small, actionable steps are more likely to resonate and inspire participation.

Role-Based Campaign Ideas

September’s campaign energy can be leveraged across departments — from marketing and comms to HR, education, and outreach. Here’s how different teams can activate awareness days and themes effectively:

Marketing and Content Teams

• Create theme-based content series (e.g. “Literacy Week Reads” or “Mental Health Reset”)
• Develop email campaigns tied to school return, family planning, or wellbeing
• Publish blog posts or videos aligned with awareness days (e.g. “Why We’re Talking About Youth Mental Health This Month”)

HR and Internal Comms Teams

• Support working parents with updated back-to-school resource guides
• Host team wellbeing sessions or learning challenges linked to literacy or mental health
• Use newsletters to share relevant dates, policies, and support services

Education Professionals

• Align awareness day content with lesson plans, assemblies, or enrichment weeks
• Engage students in campaign co-creation — poster design, social content, event planning
• Invite local campaigners, authors or wellbeing coaches to speak at schools

Nonprofits and Community Campaigners

• Activate networks of volunteers, youth leaders or families for in-person or digital events
• Use September to launch new resources, research, or programme updates
• Partner with schools, employers, or media to amplify campaign reach

Tip: Use September as a springboard for sustained engagement — link short campaigns to long-term themes in education, health, or inclusion.

Toolkit for Planning September Campaigns

September is a high-impact planning window — but it moves quickly. To make the most of your campaigns, it’s essential to prepare early, align internally, and use formats that match the pace and mood of the month.

Planning Tips

• Start 6–8 weeks ahead: Brief teams, book speakers, and create content in July or early August
• Build around 1–2 core themes: Focus ensures stronger messaging and less resource dilution
• Use thematic pairings: Link literacy with wellbeing, or sustainability with community engagement
• Include offline and online formats: Combine social media with assemblies, webinars, or team briefings

Formats That Work Well in September

• Social media reels or short-form series (reading lists, mental health tips, eco hacks)
• Interactive downloads: planners, checklists, challenges
• Internal toolkits for line managers or teachers to run sessions
• Event templates: agendas for back-to-school welcome days, wellbeing weeks, or recycling drives

Coordination and Visibility

• Create shared calendars with key dates and deadlines
• Use shared folders or campaign dashboards for teams to collaborate
• Document outcomes to support reporting, PR, or case study creation

Tip: Combine awareness days with operational goals — like onboarding, benefits updates, or Q3 engagement — to maximise efficiency and visibility.

Start Planning Your September Campaigns

September offers one of the richest campaign landscapes of the year — with relevance across education, wellbeing, sustainability, and community engagement. Whether you’re planning internal initiatives, public-facing content, or school-linked activations, this is the time to act.

Use the Awareness Days Planner to:

• Discover education, health, and sustainability days in September and beyond
• Filter by country, audience, and campaign theme
• Build strategic, seasonal campaign calendars with built-in relevance
• Get ahead of the curve with downloadable guides and planning tools

Ready to get started? Plan your September campaigns now with the Awareness Days Planner.