Managing your money throughout your training year
This page gives advice on managing your money during your foundation training year, including tips on how to budget for known and unknown costs.
Financial difficulties can happen to anyone
If you’re struggling financially, you’re not alone. Our Financial Assistance service is here to provide support during challenging times and help ease some of the pressures you may be facing.
Getting help early can make a real difference. Explore the information below to learn more about the support available, check whether you’re eligible and understand the steps involved in making an application.
Thank you so much! I'm so glad to hear that the grant has been approved and this will make a real difference for me—both financially and emotionally. Being able to focus on my revision without that extra stress is hugely important, and I absolutely appreciate that supportPharmacist Support service users
Free practical financial wellbeing resources
Are money worries affecting your mental wellbeing – you are not alone.
We understand how financial pressures can take a real toll on your mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing. That’s why, in addition to our financial assistance services, we now offer free, practical financial wellbeing resources to help you build confidence, develop money management skills and navigate common financial challenges.
This includes a new workshop (developed in partnership with Rebel Finance School) and access to the Rebel Finance School course—covering topics such as budgeting, saving and managing financial pressures.
A holistic approach to financial wellbeing
We aim to empower individuals to improve their financial wellbeing. Our charity takes a holistic approach to support, considering all the relevant services that may help you. Through our partnership with Citizens Advice Manchester, we can provide quick referrals to specialist advisers for confidential advice on benefits and debt.
Grants for trainees
Whether you are currently undertaking your 12-month placement or preparing to sit the GPhC assessment you may be experiencing financial difficulty that is negatively impacting on your performance and wellbeing.
Trainees facing unexpected financial difficulties during their GPhC approved placement, or whilst waiting to sit the assessment can apply for our Essential Living Expenses Grant up to £3,000 (Evidence of application to sit the exam is required).
Please see below for how we may be able to help you manage this part of your pharmacy journey.
Who can apply?
You are eligible to apply for financial assistance if you meet the below criteria.
Trainee Pharmacist – someone who is undertaking foundation training registered with the GPhC leading to qualification as a pharmacist.
To be eligible, you must:
- have started and be actively undertaking your foundation training placement
- or have completed your placement and be preparing to sit the next available GPhC registration assessment. Eligibility for the purposes of financial assistance will end on the day that the trainee is notified of the results of the registration assessment.
- provide evidence of registration for the next available assessment where applicable.
Eligibility ends on the date you are notified of the outcome of your registration assessment.
If you are unsuccessful in an assessment attempt, eligibility may continue once you have registered to re-sit the assessment.
Who is not eligible?
Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications from:
- trainees whose placement has ended and who have not registered for the next available GPhC registration assessment
- individuals who have failed the registration assessment three times
- ainees whose foundation training has been suspended.
What can the Essential Living Expenses grant be used for?
We can consider helping with essential costs such as:
- Financial support for essential daily living expenses (such as bills, food, travel costs, rent costs) due to unexpected temporary income loss
- help towards an unexpected one-off essential cost such as essential household appliances/household appliance repairs
- disability equipment
- or other unplanned issues.
What can the Essential Living Expenses grants not be used for?
Pharmacist Support does not generally provide financial help for costs including:
- legal costs (including visa costs)
- tax arrears
- major household repairs/renovations (beyond remedying a particular issue to the fabric of the building) such as replacement windows, roofs, new bathrooms, or kitchens
- private healthcare
Please see our eligibility criteria for the full list of exclusions Eligibility Criteria
Do savings affect eligibility?
Yes. Applicants with household savings exceeding £6,000 (including cash savings, investments and second properties held by the applicant and, where applicable, their partner) are not eligible for this grant.
Do grants need to be paid back?
No. Grants awarded by Pharmacist Support do not need to be repaid.
Our financial assistance programme is funded through charitable donations. Many people who have received support choose to give back when their circumstances improve, helping us continue supporting members of the pharmacy family facing financial hardship.
How to apply for the Essential Living Expenses Grant
Accessing Financial Assistance through Pharmacist Support is straight forward. All you need to do is:
- Check eligibility criteria thoroughly
- Register on our secure online Grants Portal (below) and complete each section step-by-step (this includes uploading supporting documentation)
- We will check your eligibility and if supporting materials are missing or we need further information to assess your application, we will contact you
- We aim to process your application and notify you of the outcome within three weeks.
NOTE If we identify a need for benefits or debt advice, you must access our Specialist Advice Service before receiving a grant. It would be helpful for the processing of your grant application form if, prior to applying, you have already checked and applied for all benefit entitlement that you, and the household if applicable, are eligible to receive.
Any grant provided by the Charity is done so at the discretion of the Charity’s Trustees and there is no statutory or other right for an individual to receive a grant.
Before you start and documents you need
Before starting the online grant application, please ensure you have the supporting documentation listed below that are relevant to your situation. These will need to be uploaded and submitted with your application:
- 3 months bank statements in full, as up to date as possible, for all bank accounts held in the applicant’s name and if applicable those of a spouse or partner. An application cannot be processed without this financial information. Bank statements should be as a pdf document, not screenshots, and have full clear information with no redactions. Your application cannot be processed without this.
- 3 months statements, as up to date as possible for all credit cards held in your name.
- Copy of your GPhC approved training placement details.
- If GPhC placement has finished evidence is required of application to sit the next available GPhC assessment.
- Evidence of rent or mortgage arrears.
- Copy of all debt repayment plans.
- Copy of tenancy agreement.
- Medical reports or fit notes if applying due to reasons of illness.
Go to the online grants portal
Contact us directly
If you are having difficulty using the online grants portal or if you need help filling in the application form, please email [email protected] for further assistance.
Further financial support
Additionally, we may be able to support you to manage debts and secure benefits entitlement. If you are unsure whether an application for financial assistance is the best route, you can contact us to find out about what other support might be available.
Additional help with financial difficulties, further support and information can be found in the finances area of our website.
