The PDA’s relationship with Pharmacist Support is a ‘no-brainer’ as they are both organisations that have been established exclusively for pharmacists. There are many charities that could benefit pharmacists as well as others, but the PDA knows every donation it gives to Pharmacist Support is used to assist the people for whom the PDA also exists to help, pharmacists.
The PDA gives £1 per member each year to Pharmacist Support. This even includes pharmacy students and trainee pharmacists who receive FREE PDA membership, as well as providing a function so that members can give their own donation when they join or renew their PDA membership. The latest quarterly donation means that since launching this partnership, the PDA has provided more than £200,000 in donations which can directly benefit pharmacists.
Pharmacist Support was established by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) in 1841, as a benevolent fund for the profession. In 2006, the benevolent fund became an independent charity, now called ‘Pharmacist Support’. This was before the regulatory powers of the RPSGB were transferred to the newly formed General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the RPSGB was replaced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in 2010.
Pharmacist Support provides a wide variety of free and confidential support services, including, information and enquiries, specialist advice, financial assistance, addiction support, counselling, peer support, and their Wardley Wellbeing Service. They are proud to be able to support people from such a caring profession and each year provide thousands of acts of support.
The number of pharmacists in Great Britain is increasing and so the charity has a growing population that could call upon it for support. Therefore, at the start of 2022, the PDA called on pharmacy employers and pharmacist organisations to also donate £1 per pharmacist employee or member to Pharmacist Support to collectively make a substantive difference to the charity’s future funding. Although a motion supporting this was agreed upon by RPS members at their annual meeting, they ultimately decided not to do so, although they will be encouraging members to donate when they join, as the PDA already does.
The PDA still believes that more donations should be sought for the profession’s benevolent fund and encourage all pharmacist organisations, whether large or small, to consider the proportionate £1 per pharmacist approach. This not only provides great opportunities for partnership and collaboration but also supports a sustainable stream of donations to the charity to help meet its overall objectives.
As well as being a PDA member, and donating funds to Pharmacist Support, PDA members may also want to purchase PDA-branded items from the PDA Shop. The PDA does not take income from this arrangement and instead donates any commission earned from the sale of these items to the charities we support, such as Pharmacist Support and PASS. This means purchasing a PDA branded item can also generate a donation charity.
Learn more
- PDA calls on employers and pharmacist organisations to make “New Year Resolution” to support the profession’s charity
- Pharmacist Support
- Visit the PDA Shop to show your support for the PDA and support charity at the same time
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.