February marks a number of events which broaden our awareness and celebrate the diverse identities that make up our community. Use the Wokingham Borough Observatory to explore relevant data in our borough.
1 February 2024 is Time To Talk Day and is an occasion for everyone to talk about mental health, while 5-11 February 2024 marks Children’s Mental Health Week. Mental health problems represent the single largest cause of disability in the UK, and people in all walks of life can be affected and at any point in their lives. The Wokingham Mental Health Needs Assessment 2022 explores the mental health needs among our population and services available in more detail, and the Berkshire West 0-19s Health Needs Assessment 2020 also covers this topic.
February: National LGBT History Month – The 2021 Census was the first national census to ask a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. On the Data Explorer, search for data in Wokingham Borough using keywords such as “sexual orientation” or “gender identity”.
10 February 2024: Lunar New Year – This is an important festival celebrated by many East Asian cultures, and this year people will ring in the Year of the Dragon. Use the Population & Demographics map to visualise the population distribution by ‘detailed ethnic groups’ in the Borough.
21 February 2024: International Mother Language Day – Language is a key defining characteristic of people’s identity, and this day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Look at the Population & Demographics report for information on the languages spoken in the Borough as recorded in the 2021 Census.