Members' Stories

Congratulations to our 2025 Helen Bailey Award winner

Oct 2025

Meet the winner of our 2025 award for the best WAY blogger about widowed life, as voted by our members…

Celebrating our 2025 Mandy Burrows Award winners

Oct 2025

Read about the joint winners of our Mandy Burrows Award, for members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help other young widowed people…

WAY members head to Bournemouth for 2025 AGM

Oct 2025

More than 115 members of WAY Widowed and Young headed to Bournemouth for the charity’s annual general meeting and dinner dance…

Male breast cancer: Navigating life after a rare cancer diagnosis

Oct 2025

Around 400 men in the UK are diagnosed with male breast cancer each year, compared to 55,550 women, according to Cancer Research UK. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, WAY member Jess shares what …

Tapping into corporate support to raise awareness of WAY

Sept 2025

From March-July 2025, the market research company Savanta supported the charity WAY Widowed and Young on a pro bono study to explore how to increase awareness and strengthen current services. Research…

Turning personal loss into professional impact: Rachel’s story

Sept 2025

WAY Ambassador Rachel explores how she has drawn on her own experience of bereavement in her professional career to give back to the charity that’s supported her through widowhood…

Easing into autumn whilst living with complex grief after suicide loss

Sept 2025

This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, WAY member Piata offers some ideas on navigating the changing seasons after being bereaved by suicide…

World Suicide Prevention Day: Helping to change the narrative

Sept 2025

WAY member Claudia shares her thoughts to mark World Suicide Prevention Day…

Rebuilding hope after being widowed by suicide

Sept 2025

To mark Suicide Awareness Month, we asked writer and mentor Caroline Roodhouse to share her advice on navigating life after being widowed by suicide…

Suicide Awareness Month: Diane’s story

Sept 2025

To mark Suicide Awareness Month this September, we are sharing the stories of some of our members who have been bereaved by suicide – as well as sharing tips and advice about how they have coped with …

A magical WAY summer break in the Peak District

Aug 2025

A group of WAY Widowed and Young members travelled to the Peak District this summer for a magical three days of sunshine, shooting stars and mutual support…

Celebrating World Photography Day with WAY

Aug 2025

To mark World Photography Day, we encouraged WAY Widowed and Young members to send in photos from their travels. We received entries from far and wide…

Widow holidays: Karen’s story

Jul 2025

WAY’s Social Media Officer Karen decided to take her four young children away on holiday just a few days after her husband’s funeral. Here’s her story…

WAY welcomes new trustee, Emma

Jul 2025

WAY Widowed and Young is pleased to welcome our eleventh member to the charity’s Board of Trustees – Emma Charlesworth.

WAY’s Book Club: online support for our members

Jul 2025

WAY Ambassador Sophie explains why she finds WAY’s online Book Club such a great source of support

Widowed with a disability: Georgina’s story

Jul 2025

To mark Disability Pride Month, WAY member Georgina shares how she has had to find new ways to manage everyday life since her partner died earlier this year…

WAY’s Impact in 2024 – Supporting 4,500+ young widowed people across the UK

Jul 2025

A survey of WAY Widowed and Young members in June 2025 reveals the power of WAY’s peer-to-peer support network

Finding friendship: Helping to see the future again

Jul 2025

To mark International Friendship Day, we celebrate the friendship between WAY Ambassador Caro and ‘kindred spirit’ Caz, who met through WAY…

WAY to go: WAY Ambassador Norman sings solo to raise funds for WAY

Jul 2025

WAY Ambassador Norman is due to sing a solo this summer to help raise funds for WAY Widowed and Young, the charity that has been a lifeline for him since he was widowed.

Widowed and sober: Karen’s story

Jul 2025

To mark Alcohol Awareness Week, WAY member Karen shares the powerful story of how she battled alcohol dependence after her husband Ben died of cancer – and is now celebrating being five years sober.