Celebrating achievements 

This year has been one of recognition for our commitment to wellbeing, having recently won two awards. We were honoured to receive the Culture Pioneer Wellbeing Award – recognising our efforts to foster a positive workplace wellbeing culture within our own charity team. We also won the Charity Learning Consortium Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing Award. This award acknowledges our Embracing a Workplace Wellbeing Culture course, described by CLC as a “groundbreaking … innovative course [which has] laid the foundation for exploring innovative ways to provide wellbeing support and training to beneficiaries.“ These accolades reflect the collective efforts of our staff, volunteers, and partners in making wellbeing a priority within the pharmacy profession.

A year of connection

Our events calendar has never been busier, and it’s been fantastic to connect with so many of you at both new and returning events. Among the highlights was our first-ever charity partnership with Pharmacy Business for their Conference & Awards, where we raised an impressive £1,931.86. We were also thrilled to expand our presence in Scotland and Wales, deepening our engagement with the pharmacy community across Great Britain. For a closer look at this year’s activities, take a moment to explore our 2024 events article. 

A time of transition

This year has been one of change and growth within our team. We are thrilled to welcome two new trustees to our Board: Leah Davies, Pharmacist Development Manager at Phoenix Medical Supplies, and Raj Nutan, Healthcare Strategy & Services Director at Alliance Healthcare, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and insight. We are also excited to welcome Sarah Crawford as our new Finance & Operations Manager and Deputy Chief Executive, who will join the team in February. At the same time, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Trustee Karen Harrowing, whose dedication and invaluable contributions have left a lasting impact. 

Sadly, 2024 also brought the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Gill Darling. Gill touched countless lives through her work with Pharmacist Support, and her passion and kindness will always be remembered. Her legacy will continue to inspire our mission and guide us as we move forward. 

New initiatives and partnerships 

In October, as part of our Pharmacist ACTNow campaign, we launched our new wellbeing podcast, A Dose of Wellbeing. This exciting new platform allows us to reach more members of our pharmacy family with inspiring conversations, expert insights, and practical wellbeing advice. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to listen to our first episodes and stay tuned for more in 2025! 

We are also incredibly grateful for the outstanding support of our partners this year. A particular highlight has been the first year of our multiyear partnership with Alliance Healthcare UK, which is helping to fund our vital Student Bursary Scheme. We’re also pleased to have established a new partnership with AAH and to celebrate the continued generosity of the PDA and its members. Over the past seven years, the PDA’s donations have exceeded an incredible £250,000. Partnerships like these have a transformative impact, and we’re excited to strengthen and grow these relationships in the years to come.