Charity seeking volunteers to champion wellbeing across pharmacy sector

Volunteers are being encouraged to come forward to help champion the wellbeing of pharmacists and their families as part of a charity recruitment campaign.

To mark volunteers’ week from 1 June to 7 June, Pharmacist Support has been inviting people to apply to its board of trustees or its charity ambassador volunteer network.

Pharmacist and lay trustees who join its board of trustees will help to guide the charity’s strategic direction, ensuring strong governance and supporting the organisation to continue meeting the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession, the charity said.

The charity ambassador recruitment campaign will run over the summer, with opportunities for volunteers to support campaigns and events, share information within professional networks and help connect the charity with new audiences and opportunities, it added.

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Pharmacist Support said it is keen to hear from people working across all areas of pharmacy, including community, hospital, GP pharmacy, academia and industry, as well as people at different stages of their careers to join its ambassador network.

Informal ambassador recruitment conversations will take place throughout the summer with successful applicants being invited to attend a volunteer event in September, it said.

Ambassadors and trustees play a ‘vital role’ in supporting the wellbeing of pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists, trainees and students throughout their careers, the charity added.

Danielle Hunt, chief executive of Pharmacist Support, said: ‘Whether someone joins us as a trustee or charity ambassador, they will play an important role in helping ensure no one in our pharmacy family faces challenging times alone.

‘We are keen to hear from people with a wide range of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives who share our passion for supporting wellbeing across the profession.’

Trustee applications opened on 5 June and close at midday on 3 August, with interviews to take place in September.

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The chair of Pharmacist Support, Esther Sadler-Williams, said: ‘Being a trustee is an incredibly rewarding opportunity to help make a meaningful difference to the wellbeing of our pharmacy family and shape the future direction of the charity.’

The volunteer recruitment drive comes after the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) last month announced a £4,270 donation to the charity to celebrate its 185^th anniversary.

According to Pharmacist Support, this level of funding can provide:

• Around 85 specialist counselling sessions for those experiencing stress, burnout, anxiety or bereavement;
• Up to 14 urgent financial grants to pharmacists facing unexpected hardship; and
• Mental health and financial support for pharmacy students under pressure from studies, exams or living costs.

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