Derbyshire weekend: Making lifelong friends through WAY

June 2024

WAY member Kate was one of 52 WAY members and children who have just spent a weekend in Derbyshire, making new friends and memories over Father’s Day. Kate takes up the story… 

“Me and my daughter are just returning from our second Derbyshire weekend with the peer support network WAY Widowed and Young. We had such a great time yet again. There were fantastic activities organised by the team and so much fun to be had. The accommodation is great, the food is excellent and the company is so welcoming.

I joined WAY after my husband died from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2021 when our daughter Lucy was just three. It has been a hard process trying to manage my own feelings and her feelings side by side. 

I first chose to attend this WAY weekend away last year after Lucy (now six) started really struggling with feeling the odd one out at school and amongst her peers. She didn’t see herself reflected in anyone else around her. But in the WAY group, she has found lots of friends just like her to run around and play with. 

Finding your crew

At the Derbyshire weekend, which coincides with Father’s Day, there is so much green safe space for adventures to be had. It brings me great joy to see my daughter so happy and not feeling like she is the odd one out. This is a little “Crew” (as she calls it) that she belongs to.

We both had a great weekend and the day out at the outdoor activity centre Conkers on the Saturday was an absolute winner yet again. Lucy had so much fun. The activities organised are really excellent – climbing, canoes, go karts, rope courses and so much more. 

The evening entertainment is always a blast for adults and children alike – offering lots of opportunities to chat and socialise with fellow WAY members (and realise my lack of quiz abilities).

The other important thing I have learned is that it has been so, so valuable for ME to meet other adults in a similar situation to me as well. Being able to discuss our lives and the unique issues we have really is the definition of “A problem shared is a problem halved”. Everyone is very welcoming and friendly. 

If you are on the fence about attending a WAY event in future, my advice is … just do it, it’s a great experience.

I truly feel like we have made new lifelong friends through WAY and we are both already looking forward to next year.”

WAY runs several activity weekends through the year to help WAY members find friendship, support and understanding.

Read about previous WAY weekends away