Pharmacist Support is helping UK pharmacists combat stress, supported by a £1.3 million windfall last year, the charity has revealed.  

The charity is running a pilot of free wellbeing workshops in December to teach pharmacists how to cope with stress using money it was left in a couple's estate, Pharmacist Support told C+D on Monday (October 21).

The money, the largest-ever legacy to be left to the charity, was donated by the wife of former pharmacy contractor Robert James Wesley Wardley in Kent, who shared their estate across a number of charities. 

Pharmacist Support's three-hour workshops will focus on helping pharmacists to achieve positive wellbeing and a better work-life balance	More on workplace pressures Finances and employment top sources of stress for pharmacists, charity reveals Working conditions' impact on patient safety under investigation Pharmacy owners have worst work-life balance, C+D finds MORE NEWS
	Charity manager Diane Leicester-Hallam said it was clear from "the wording of the gift" that the couple "wished to enable the charity to assist pharmacists with stress".

"Before receipt of the gift, our trustees decided that the charity should undertake research into the potential for new services focused on alleviation of, and support to overcome, stress and promote wellbeing within the sector," she said.

The three-hour workshops were being launched as part of the charity's work on stress, Ms Leicester-Hallam said.

They will take place in Manchester on December 3 and London on December 5 to help pharmacists "deepen" their understanding of positive wellbeing and encourage self-reflection, as well as provide tips and techniques about a better work-life balance, the charity said. Pharmacists can apply for a place through the charity's website.

The gift contributed to the charity's £1.8 million income last year, which also came from £21,000 in donations and £375,000 from investments, according to its annual review released last week (October 17).

Nearly four in 10 pharmacists have sought help for stress in the past year, a C+D poll of 118 respondents revealed in August, which pharmacy leaders blamed on increasing work pressures.