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A message from the President for Black History Month

As Black History month begins, many colleagues are reflecting not only on celebration and progress, but also on the racism and discrimination that continue to shape people’s experiences across healthcare and wider society. Recent events have brought these realities into sharp focus. We have heard from members and colleagues about the impact of racism in their professional and personal lives. We see what is happening. We hear the concern, hurt and exhaustion behind what people are telling us. And we are clear: racism, in any form, is unacceptable and has no place in pharmacy or anywhere in healthcare. Heritage months and moments of recognition are important. They create space to celebrate, learn and strengthen our connection with one another. But inclusion cannot be achieved through events alone. It must be evident in our culture, our leadership, our decisions and in the everyday experiences of the people who make up our profession. The diversity of pharmacy is one of our profession’s greatest strengths, yet we know that opportunity, recognition and belonging are not experienced equally. Too many colleagues still encounter barriers, bias and unequal scrutiny. We must acknowledge that honestly and be prepared to act. As the Royal College of Pharmacy, we will use our leadership, our platform and our influence to help drive meaningful change. Work is already underway, but we recognise that more is needed and that we must do more. We will shortly be setting out our transitional strategy, we will ensure that inclusion remains part of how we shape the College and how we serve and represent the profession. We will build on the work already in progress, listen closely to members and colleagues, examine where change is needed within our organisation, and consider how we can more effectively challenge inequity across pharmacy. We will be open about what we learn, clear about the action that follows and accountable for making progress. To every colleague affected by racism and discrimination: we see you, we hear you and we stand with you. You should not have to carry these experiences alone or accept them as part of professional life. Together, we must build a profession in which everyone is valued, belongs and has the opportunity to thrive. This work cannot be peripheral to who we are. It is fundamental to the kind of Royal College we are building and to the future of the profession we serve. We do not accept the status quo. We will continue the work already underway, and we will do more.