How we can help
Pharmacist Support is an entirely independent organisation and access to our services is completely confidential.
Every member of our pharmacy family deserves to feel informed, supported and reassured
This FAQ has been created to bring clarity to the questions we’re asked most often – from our purpose and who we’re here for, to how we’re funded, our independence, and the history of Birdsgrove House. You’ll also find helpful answers about our free and confidential services, where they’re available, and how we support pharmacists, students, trainees and their families. We’ve also included guidance for those who wish to donate, volunteer or fundraise, along with information about our governance and commitment to transparency. Our hope is that these answers give you confidence in who we are, how we work and how deeply we care about the wellbeing of our pharmacy family.
About us
A1. What does your charity do?
We provide a wide variety of free and confidential support services, including Information and Enquiries, Specialist Advice, Financial Assistance, Addiction Support, Counselling and Peer Support, as well as a range of proactive wellbeing support. We’re proud to be able to help people from such a caring profession and each year we provide thousands of acts of support.
A2. What is the Charity’s purpose?
Our vision is for no one in our pharmacy family to face challenging times without us by their side and its mission is to champion the wellbeing of our pharmacy family.
A3. Who do you help?
We help pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists, trainee pharmacists and pharmacy students across Great Britain.
A4. How wide does the support for Pharmacist’s families go?
We support dependents of pharmacists (including retired pharmacists). We do not support dependents of students or trainees. A dependant is defined as:
- The spouse/civil partner or long-term partner of a pharmacist. In assessing whether the relationship is long-term, consideration will be given to a range of factors, including whether the partners share a household, the length of time the relationship (minimum five years) has existed and any joint commitments or responsibilities (financial or other)
- a child for whom the pharmacist (or their partner) is legally responsible and who is under 18 or under 19 if in further education and is dependent on their parent or guardian for financial support
- The son or daughter of a pharmacist who is over 18, but due to physical or mental disability is dependent on their parent for financial support.
A5. Are you a registered charity?
Yes. Pharmacist Support is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 9237609 and charity number 1158974.
A6. How are you funded?
The charity relies on investment income and gains to fund the ongoing operational costs of the charity, which include service delivery and grant making activity, as well as donations from individuals and organisations across the sector. Further information on making a donation or becoming a charity partner can be found here.
A7. Do you plan to expand support to include Pharmacy Technicians?
This is something the charity is exploring. It remains our purpose to support “our pharmacy family” in perpetuity, as well as continuing to evolve to remain relevant. Over recent years we have been increasingly asked to consider supporting Pharmacy Technicians. In 2023, trustees began a process to review options around Pharmacy Technicians potentially becoming part of our beneficiary pool in the future, which included engagement with stakeholders and the profession.
Following this review, and to ensure that they remain fit for the future, the charity’s Articles of Association were updated and accepted by the Charity Commission in June 2024. Included in these edits was an addition, which would enable us to support additional beneficiary groups in the future. We have specified that such an addition, if it were to be invoked, would be limited to individuals who are current registrants on a register held by the GPhC.
It has been agreed by trustees as part of our new 2025-2029 strategy, that the intention over the next five years is to work with stakeholders, including current and potential donors, to identify if there are opportunities to expand some form of support in the future to Pharmacy Technicians. Additional funding would be required to carry out this work.
Any updates on this process will be shared on our website via the Chair of Trustees update.
A8. Were you once Birdsgrove House?
Birdsgrove House was once the charity’s convalescence home in Derbyshire. The building was sold in 2006 as it became too costly to run, and people were seeking support in different ways. Proceeds from the sale of the property were reinvested back into the charity to fund new, more flexible support better suited to individual needs.
A9. Are you part of any other organisations, such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society?
No, we are an independent organisation. However, we do work in partnership with a range of organisations across the sector, including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, to increase our reach.
Our support services
S1. How do I contact the charity for support?
There is a whole host of information on our website, but if you can’t find the information you are looking for, we can be reached via our online enquiry form, email and phone. You can find more information on our contact us page.
S2. How do you ensure that my interaction is confidential?
Confidentiality is at the heart of what we do and we have strict procedures in place to protect your data. Whether you come to us for financial support, counselling, or guidance, you can be reassured that your information stays between you and the charity.
S3. Will you tell the GPhC anything about me?
No, we are not part of the GPhC and we don’t report or share personal data with the GPhC. We are an independent charity regulated by the Charity Commission.
S4. Do you have to be a member to access your services?
No. Pharmacist Support is not a membership organisation. As an independent charity, we can support individuals across the profession, which means that anyone in our pharmacy family who is eligible for support can access our services whenever they need them.
S5. Do I have to pay for your services?
The majority of our support is completely free. This includes access to our information, guidance, financial assistance, peer support, and specialist advice. For counselling, we fund sessions for Foundation Trainees, MPharm students and Pharmacists earning below £40,500 per year. However, we do understand that some people earning above this threshold may still struggle to self-fund and we’ll always consider individual circumstances.
S6. Are your services available across the UK?
No, our services are available to pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, and pharmacy students across Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). If you are based in Northern Ireland, you can access support from the Pharmacists’ Advice and Support Service (PASS).
Donations
D1. Why do you need donations?
Our aim is to ensure that the charity is able to deliver support both now and in perpetuity. To do this, we must secure donations to ensure that we can meet increased demand, whilst protecting a certain level of reserves to ensure that the charity can deliver support into the future. You can find out more about our charity reserves in question T4. Donations are key to achieve the impact today for our pharmacy family.
D2. How can I make a donation?
You can make a one off donation, or set up a monthly gift securely online through our website.
D3. Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. All eligible donations are tax-deductible, and we provide receipts for your records.
D4. How is my donation used?
All donations are used to fund direct support to our beneficiaries. From providing counselling and peer support, to funding grants for pharmacists in difficulty, and developing proactive resources such as financial wellbeing workshops — your donation makes a real difference.
D5. Can our organisation support your work?
Yes. Many organisations partner with us to raise funds, deliver joint initiatives, or through making donations. You can find out more on our Partner with us webpage.
D6. Do you accept donations from any organisation?
Yes. All charity donations are regularly reviewed by the charity trustees in line with charity commission guidance. This ensures donations align with our values and are used responsibly.
D7. How do you ensure donations are managed responsibly?
We undergo regular independent audits, track the impact of our services, and ensure all spending decisions are aligned to our charitable purpose. All this information can be found in our annual reports, which can be found here.
Volunteering and fundraising
V1. How can I volunteer?
There are currently two volunteering roles with the charity:
- Listening Friends – trained pharmacist volunteers who provide peer support
- Ambassadors – volunteers who help the charity raise awareness of and funds to support our work.
Our trustees are also volunteers. All volunteer opportunities are advertised on our website, in our newsletters and across social media.
V2. Can I organise a fundraiser for your charity?
Yes! We love seeing members of our pharmacy family run, cycle, bake, or take on creative challenges to support our work. Visit our Fundraise for Us page for ideas and resources.
V3. Do you have a newsletter?
Yes. Our newsletters share updates on services, campaigns, and stories from across the pharmacy community. Sign up on our website to stay connected.
V4. If I donate do I have to Gift Aid?
No, you don’t have to use Gift Aid when you donate. Gift Aid is completely optional — it’s a scheme in the UK that lets charities claim an extra 25p from HMRC for every £1 you give, at no extra cost to you (if you’re a UK taxpayer).
V5. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is becoming a registered charity, will this lead to competition for donations?
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has provided reassurance that their move to become a registered charity is part of the process of becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy and it is not their intention to compete with the charity. They instead, see their transition as an opportunity to support the charity in its vision and mission.
Transparency and governance
T1. How are you governed?
Pharmacist Support is governed by a small group of trustees. The board of trustees sets the charity’s vision, mission, values and strategy and is responsible for monitoring progress to ensure that the charity remains financially sustainable and delivers in line with our beneficiaries needs. Day-to-day operations and management are delegated to the Chief Executive and senior management team, who provide regular reports to the trustees on performance and operations.
T2. Where can I find your financial information?
Our annual reports and audited financial statements are available on our website.
T3. What is your approach to managing your investments?
Our funds are managed by an investment management company, whose performance is monitored by the charity’s trustees. The primary aim is to generate a sustainable income stream to fund our core activities, while preserving the long-term value of our investments after management expenses.
T4. Why do you hold reserves?
Holding reserves ensures that we can continue to support beneficiaries both now and in the future. Investment income from reserves provides stability and long-term sustainability, protecting the charity against fluctuations in donations or unexpected costs. The charity holds a minimum amount in investments to ensure that the income and growth from its investments is large enough to fund the core activities of the charity.
T5. Do you have an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy?
Yes. Pharmacist Support is committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity, and creating an inclusive environment for all who work with or access its services. We want to ensure people are treated fairly, equitably and are offered equal access and opportunities. This applies to our beneficiaries and supporters as well as our staff, volunteers and Trustees.
In 2021, the charity set about developing an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy and action plan.
T6. How does the charity work to minimise its environmental impact?
As a charity, we believe we have a responsibility to act on climate change and are joining others across the profession to make a commitment to consider environmental sustainability across our work. Read our environmental sustainability commitment.
