Members' Stories

What Pride means to me: Reflections from WAY volunteers

Jun 2026

To mark this Pride month, we asked some of our LGBTQIA+ widowed members what Pride means to them…

Mandy Burrows Award: Meet our 2026 nominees

Jun 2026

This Volunteers’ Week, we are pleased to celebrate three inspirational members who’ve been nominated for our annual Mandy Burrows Award…

From grief to the Great North Swim: Louise’s story

May 2026

Find out why WAY member Louise decided to swim 5k through the waters of Lake Windermere for WAY…

The ultimate spiritual journey – Ruba’s Hajj story

May 2026

To mark Eid Al Adha, Muslim WAY member Ruba reflects on her Hajj pilgrimage story…

Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave: A new right for grieving parents

May 2026

Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave gives employed fathers and partners new rights if their partner dies in their child’s first year of life…

Rain didn’t stop the fun for WAY’s Big Picnic festivities

May 2026

More than 400 WAY members, friends and families – as well as a few friendly deer – enjoyed our 2026 Big Picnic weekend

Walking through grief: Why Felix set up a hiking group for young widowed people

May 2026

To mark National Walking Month, WAY member Felix explains why he set up a walking and hiking group for young widowed people across the UK.

Getting your Will sorted: A former solicitor and young widow’s guide

Apr 2026

WAY Ambassador Emma Gray – a former solicitor who retrained as a grief coach after she was widowed young – explains why getting your Will in order is so important…

Walking for Jonathan: Cassie’s Kiltwalk for WAY

Apr 2026

On 25-26 April, Scottish WAY member Cassie took part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk...

WAY member Rosie Moss turns award-winning Widowed AF podcast into book

Apr 2026

Read how WAY member Rosie Moss turned her award-winning podcast into a book about what it feels like to be widowed and young…

WAY runners helped each other over the line at the London Landmarks Half Marathon

Apr 2026

Six WAY runners came together for the London Landmarks Half Marathon on a sunny Sunday morning earlier this month...

Handmade gift exchange connects young widowed crafters

Apr 2026

A group of 18 talented WAY members decided to send each other handmade gifts to help lift their spirits through the dark winter months

Team of five WAY members from Northern Ireland running the Belfast marathon relay

Mar 2026

A team of five WAY members from Northern Ireland are lacing up their running shoes in readiness for the Belfast marathon relay in May.

Helen Bailey Blog & Digital Storyteller Award 2026

Mar 2026

In recognition of the different ways widowed people are choosing to share their stories, we’re delighted to announce that we’re extending our Helen Bailey Blog Award to include digital storytelling th…

Finding solace in poetry: Catherine’s story

Mar 2026

To mark World Poetry Day, we are pleased to share the story of former WAY member Catherine Redford, who has written a poetry collection based on her experiences of being widowed young…

Holding space for happiness while grieving: Ruba’s Eid al Fitr reflections

Mar 2026

This Eid Al Fitr, we share the reflections of WAY member Ruba

Weekend away with WAY: Adventure, laughter and community

Mar 2026

More than 50 WAY members and children had a blast at an adventure weekend at PGL near Grantham last month…

Running through grief: Hannah’s Mother’s Day half marathon

Mar 2026

This Mother’s Day, WAY Widowed and Young member and solo parent Hannah will be taking part in the Bath Half Marathon to raise funds for WAY.

Day of Reflection: An exclusive extract from WAY Trustee’s memoir

Mar 2026

To mark this Day of Reflection, we share an exclusive extract from WAY Trustee Emma Charlesworth’s book documenting the reality of being widowed during the pandemic…

Dying is an expensive business: An essay to mark International Women’s Day

Mar 2026

WAY member and writer Cath Holland has an essay about the cost of dying as a working-class widow in an anthology about writing & social class to mark International Women’s Day.