The charity Pharmacist Support has launched a new fundraising campaign highlighting the importance of donations and legacy giving ahead of World Pharmacists Day on September 25, and and the C+D Awards on 19 September. 

The independent charity announced the campaign last week (September 9) as it says “with rising levels of stress, mental health challenges, and financial difficulties within the profession, every contribution will help the charity continue to provide crucial support services to those who need it most”. 

Read more: Pharmacist Support secures more funds through renewed partnership with Teva UK 

It supports pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy students and former pharmacists with a variety of free and confidential advice and support that includes stress and wellbeing, welfare, addiction, counselling, benefits and employment, debt and financial assistance services. 

In 2023, the charity’s support services saw them: 

The dual-campaign has been built around World Pharmacists Day which celebrates “the vital contributions of pharmacists and recognise the challenges they face”, and was launched as Remember a Charity Week took place from September 9-15. 

Will-writing service 

From the 1,188 respondents to its annual Workforce Wellbeing Survey in collaboration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in 2023, Pharmacist Support say that “93% of those working in community pharmacy are at high risk of burnout” and “60% have considered leaving their current role or the pharmacy profession in the past year”. 

Pharmacist Support chief executive Danielle Hunt says “as the demand for our services continues to grow, this campaign is crucial in ensuring we can meet the immediate needs of our pharmacy family while also securing the future support for generations to come. 

“Every donation, no matter the size, helps us provide essential services that make a real difference in the lives of our pharmacy family”, she added. 

Read more: Charity launches back-to-school grant for families in community pharmacy 

The charity is launching a new online will-writing service to encourage supporters to leave a gift in their will and says “by allocating just 1% of their estate to the charity, individuals can make a profound and lasting impact [and] ensure that future generations of pharmacists will continue to receive the support they need”. 

Pharmacist Support is funded by donations from pharmacists and pharmacy organisations, and in the year ending 2023 received £156,245 in donations and legacies, down from a five-year high in the year ending 2021 when they received just over £275,000. 

The organisation has been around for 180 years and was previously known as The Benevolent Fund of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain before re-launching in 2008 and becoming a charity in 2015.