How we’ve helped others

Illness, stress, bereavement and unemployment can affect all of us at some stage in our life. Take a look at our case studies to see how we've supported your colleagues and peers in need.

Assistance from Pharmacist Support can come in many different ways to suit the needs of the individual. The following stories highlight the many ways in which we have responded to the needs of pharmacists, their dependants and pharmacy students who have found themselves confronted by difficult circumstances.

Read our case studies

“Knowing that there might be others from a similar background with a similar problem was an eye opener; I thought I was the only one.”

Anne Cawdron is a retired pharmacist currently volunteering as a vaccinator who we helped with her addiction struggles when we were The Benevolent Fund. She has kindly shared her story to encourage those in our pharmacy family to reach out for help.

“A chance phone call from Pharmacist Support asking about my health made me admit that I was not well and needed help. At last, I had turned a corner – I had asked for help.”

Bob Dunkley is a locum pharmacist who we have supported through his addiction struggles. Here, Bob graciously shares his story with us in the hope to help others who may be struggling in our pharmacy family.

“Just talking to the charity about my ideas and progress with my restoration portfolio has helped me to stay focused and motivated.”

Pharmacist Support have assisted me through a period of severe financial hardship and helped me on my journey towards returning to the register.

“Knowing that I was not the only pharmacist to be suffering in the way that I was came as a relief as well as a surprise.”

My experience with Pharmacist Support has been lifesaving and life changing. I have a young family who are as grateful as I am for the help that I have been afforded by the charity throughout the course of my difficulties.

“The support that the charity has been giving us has made our life a lot easier, a lot better, a lot more manageable and a lot more enjoyable.”

Julie is a pharmacist, married to Paul who has had MS for a number of years and is now confined to a wheelchair. The couple give us a glimpse into their lives and talk about the assistance they have received from Pharmacist Support along the way.

“As soon as I sent an email to the charity I received fantastic help and support and have been able to find my way.”

Paolo is an Italian pharmacist and has been in London since January 2013. After finding the transition to the UK pharmacy sector challenging, he reached out to us for support. After 8 years as a Pharmacy Manager in Italy, I decided that I wanted a new challenge and came here to the UK. I spent…

“Pharmacist Support picked me up, carried me out of a horrible situation and reminded me that people do care.”

Emily graduated with a first class degree and registered as a pharmacist. A severe health relapse, however, made finding paid work extremely prohibitive. Covering basic living cost was becoming overwhelming and Emily was finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.

"My husband Joe and I are both pharmacists,

We have three children Charlotte 15, Michael 14 and Catherine 9. Joe and I met whilst studying pharmacy at Brighton and qualified together in 1995. Our daughter Charlotte has Down syndrome."

Read our family's story

Meet Julie and Paul

Julie is a pharmacist, married to Paul who has had MS for a number of years and is now confined to a wheelchair.

Watch Julie and Paul's story

Please help us support others in our pharmacy family

We will always be here to support our entire pharmacy family, whenever they need us. But we can't do it without you. As an independent charity, we rely on generous donations from those in the profession in order to continue our work.

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“It is the care that the staff at Pharmacist Support show to pharmacists and their families that makes it easier to continue in treatment.”

We have been supporting John* and his family on his journey to recovery since 1994, who has now been clean for eight years.

“Each time I spoke to you, I felt that somebody at the other end of the line really believed and understood what I’ve been through. I am very grateful for what you have done.”

Following a bad accident leaving her with multiple fractures, Maria* was informed that it would be 4 – 6 months before she could return to work. Leaving her and her family in a very difficult situation.

“I received financial help from the very thoughtful and wonderful staff at Pharmacist Support. This really helped me to pull through until I was registered.”

Sam is a trainee pharmacist. He failed his first attempt at the exam and was unable to secure an extension to his current placement, or to find other work to support himself, his wife and child through the summer months.

“I am very grateful for the help for my daughter and myself and dread to think what the situation would be if you had not been there.”

When my daughter’s problems became really bad I had to seek help, as I thought she could die. She had collapsed at home, stopped breathing, was often falling and hurting herself and her existence was in danger.

“Pharmacist Support’s kindness has been a comfort in what have been difficult and occasionally bleak times.”

Following a year out of work due to illness, Lucy's husband Paul was finally diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer. At this point, Paul began intensive chemotherapy treatment and Lucy quit her job to become a full-time carer.

“The help that the charity provided was a lifeline.”

Read about how we provided financial assistance to an ex-pharmacist facing homelessness.

“The great advantage of a stay at Birdsgrove was the ability to step back from the problems of everyday life and to have our physical and mental wounds gently cossetted.”

Barbara and her husband Keith visited Birdsgrove House after a severe car accident in 1997, and again in the following year to continue their recovery. Upon our arrival – a crisp autumn afternoon – we were astounded to be greeted, in the entrance hall of the fine country home, by what appeared to be the…

Ways to support our work

As an independent charity we rely on the generosity of pharmacists and pharmacy organisations to be able to continue our work. If you've been inspired by our case studies to support us, please consider donating, fundraising, volunteering or becoming a charity sponsor!

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