Strengthening our partnership with Pharmacist Support

This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. At the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, we’ve always valued our strong partnership with Pharmacist Support, and we’re committed to continuing to work together to support the profession. With the proposed changes to our Royal Charter as part of our ambition to become both the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity, we’ve collaborated on a joint statement to clarify what this means for our partnership moving forward. We know there have been questions about how these changes might impact Pharmacist Support's work, particularly around the proposed benevolence object. Our statement sets out our shared commitment to strengthening our collaboration and ensuring that support for the profession remains as effective as possible. You can read the full statement below. Following the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) announcement of proposed changes to its Royal Charter as part of its ambition to become both the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity, RPS and Pharmacist Support are issuing this joint statement to set out how the two organisations will continue to work collaboratively together and if the RPS’ changes may impact the collaboration in the future. Since our evolution into separate but closely aligned entities in 2006, the RPS and Pharmacist Support have developed a collaborative relationship, engaging in joint activities and shared initiatives. In May 2024, we formalised this partnership through an agreement designed to align our plans, enhance cooperation and maximise the charity’s impact in supporting RPS members. This is all in accordance with RPS’s power to undertake benevolent activities in the existing Royal Charter (clause 3(2)). Our joint intention is to continue strengthening this partnership. In particular, RPS has been keen to alleviate concerns raised by Pharmacist Support, regarding the proposed amended Royal Charter and charitable object (clause 3(1)(c)): "To relieve poverty, financial hardship, or other distress among current and former Members and Associate Members of the College, their dependents, and those studying or training to be pharmacists, as well as others in the pharmacy profession, as determined by the Trustees." Concerns were raised by the charity that this object overlaps with Pharmacist Support’s existing work and may therefore negatively impact the charity. Thus, the RPS wishes to clarify that this proposed change to the Royal Charter is not intended to create competition between our organisations. Instead, it reflects a long-standing commitment by the RPS to benevolence in the current Royal Charter, and which the Charity Commission requires to be explicitly moved to the amended Royal Charter’s charitable objects clause if that commitment to benevolence for the pharmacy profession is to be retained by the Royal College of Pharmacy. If the special resolution is approved by members, the RPS intends to ensure that its commitment to benevolence is delivered effectively through strengthening the partnership with Pharmacist Support. A review of the existing partnership agreement will be undertaken to align with the new structure and goals of the Royal College of Pharmacy. The intention, both now and into the future, is for the Royal College of Pharmacy to deliver object 31(c) by supporting and working in partnership with the independent charity Pharmacist Support in delivering its crucial work. This proposed transition represents a significant step forward for the profession, and the RPS encourages its members to participate in the upcoming vote to help shape the future of pharmacy. RPS members will have the opportunity to vote on these changes through a special resolution vote, which will take place from 13th to 24th March 2025. Professor Claire Anderson, RPS President Esther Sadler-Williams, Chair of Pharmacist Support