Join us for our Many Threads, One Fabric
- South Asian Heritage Month 2026

South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) is a national celebration honouring the history, culture and achievements of South Asian communities across the UK. This year, the Royal College of Pharmacy and our partner organisations are proud to bring you Many Threads, One Fabric to reprise Unity in Diversity - an event that reflects on the rich diversity of South Asian heritage and its profound contribution to the pharmacy profession. The event will celebrate the many cultures, languages and lived experiences that make up our South Asian pharmacy community, while inviting all pharmacy professionals to reflect on what we can learn from each other. This year we are deliberately broadening the conversation to include health inequities and intersectionality – exploring how our cultural identities shape the care we give, the barriers we face, and the changes we want to see in our profession and for our patients.

Through a keynote address, an honest and wide-ranging panel discussion, and spoken word poetry, we will hear stories of resilience, identity and belonging. Whether you identify as South Asian or simply want to learn, reflect and connect – this event is for you.

This event is open to all, no matter your identity.

Learning Objectives:

Reflect on the diverse cultural backgrounds within South Asian communities and how heritage shapes professional identity in pharmacy
Explore health inequities affecting South Asian communities and consider how pharmacy professionals can contribute to more equitable care
Discuss the concept of intersectionality and how overlapping identities influence experiences in the workplace and in patient care
Identify ways to foster a more inclusive culture across pharmacy organisations and networks, drawing on lessons from lived experience

Agenda:

5pm - 5.30pm	Drinks, Arrival and registration
5.30pm - 5.45pm	Welcome and introductions
5.45pm - 6pm	Keynote address - Alishah Lakha, EDI Lead, APTUK
6pm - 6.45pm	Panel discussion: Many Threads, One Fabric
6.45pm	Close and introduction to Poonam Lumb (Spoken Word Poet)
7pm - 8pm	Networking and food/drinks

Any questions?
Contact the team at events@rcpharm.org and we'll be happy to assist.

With thanks to our partners:

APTUK

Through strong, influential, and professional leadership we will ensure that the voice of the pharmacy technician is heard. We will develop a valued profession recognised in its own right, extending scope of practice to improve pharmacy services to benefit patients’ lives.

To achieve our mission and goals, APTUK works closely with the General Pharmaceutical Council; and collaboratively with the other pharmacy organisations to deliver professional excellence. We are commitied to representing the value of registration for pharmacy technicians practising in Northern Ireland by working with the Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland.

Pharmacy Technicians of Colour

Pharmacy Technicians of Colour (PToC) are a special interest group that advocates for racial equity and inclusion in pharmacy.
When people feel valued and motivated it supports delivery of high-quality patient care and improved job satisfaction; however, when individuals are excluded and face discrimination or racism it has a negative impact.
Our aim is to celebrate achievements, raise awareness of inequalities, educate about inclusion and amplify the voices our group members.

Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists

We are a professional and trade union-backed membership organisation for pharmacists in the managed service, working for the NHS across the UK. The GHP is over 100 years old and has helped lead, shape, and grow pharmacy into where it is today.

We strive to protect and promote NHS pharmacists and give our members a voice now and in the future.

Pharmacy Business

Pharmacy Business has been a leading voice for pharmacy for over 25 years. Established in 1998 and part of Asian Media Group Ltd, Pharmacy Business delivers comprehensive coverage of pharmacy sector developments, expert commentary, and business analysis.

With an ABC circulation of over 10,000, it is the first choice among community pharmacists for breaking news, policy updates, clinical practice insights, and business advice. The publication reaches its audience through its magazine, website and social media channels with daily news articles, newsletters, podcasts, webinars, and engaging posts on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

Female Pharmacy Leaders Network

The network is made up of 1000+ pharmacy professionals from across all sectors and all leadership levels. We have students all the way up to CEOs, superintendents and chief pharmacists. We have members who are at national bodies, community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, PCN's, NHS England, Pharmaceutical Companies, Digital Health and beyond.

Our aim is to create a space that is inclusive, open and accessible to all pharmacy professionals who have leadership ambitions.

UK Black Pharmacists Association

We are the UK Black Pharmacist Association (UKBPA) our mission is to promote and support the interests of UK pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy students (including students on the Overseas Pharmacists' Assessment Programme) who identify as black. The UKBPA aims to create practical solutions to the current inequalities faced by black pharmacists in the UK. We believe that patients and indeed society at large are best served if all pharmacists are allowed to reach their full potential, independent of colour, nationality or ethnicity

British Pharmaceutical Students'

Association

The BPSA provides opportunities to, advocates for, and amplifies the voices of pharmacy students.

We work to enhance the experience of our members by inspiring them to invest in their development, seixe opportunities and become advocates for their profession.

Many Threads, One Fabric – South Asian Heritage Month 2026