Members' Stories

Here are just a few stories from our incredible members and how our charity has supported them. 

Supporting each other through tough times: Volunteer Liz’s story

May 2025

Volunteer Liz explains why she decided to become a volunteer for WAY to help support other people who’ve been widowed young…

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

May 2025

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.

Serica’s story: Running for WAY

Apr 2025

Birmingham WAY member Serica explains why she’s raising funds for the charity that’s been such a lifeline since she was widowed last year…

Book competition: Your chance to win I Am A Wolf Tonight

Apr 2025

WAY member Thelma Ainsworth has just published her first memoir I Am A Wolf Tonight, which documents her journey as a young widow after her husband died of cancer.

WAY’s spring fundraising update

Mar 2025

Hear what our fab fundraisers have been up to in the first few months of 2025…

Day of Reflection: Five years seems forever and no time at all

Mar 2025

To mark this Day of Reflection, WAY Ambassador Emma Charlesworth reflects on the five years since her husband Charlie died of COVID-19…

Day of Reflection: Learning to live again after loss

Mar 2025

To mark this Day of Reflection, WAY member Eileen reflects on the three years since she lost her partner Scott to COVID-19…

International Women’s Day: Finding strength and friendship in widowhood

Mar 2025

This International Women’s Day, members of WAY Widowed and Young celebrate the strength of female friendship and support that has helped to carry them through widowhood…

Taking the plunge together: Emma and Poppy’s PGL adventures

Feb 2025

Recently, WAY member Emma and her daughter Poppy joined nearly 80 WAY members and children as part of an activity weekend at PGL Caythorpe near Grantham. Emma shares their experience…

WAY member Ruba shares her reflections and resolutions this Ramadan, four years after her husband’s death…

Feb 2025

Ramadan Mubarak to all of those in the Muslim community and to our Muslim members. We know how difficult it can be to mark this Holy Month without your loved one.

A word from the Chair of WAY: Joanna’s story

Feb 2025

The Chair of WAY Widowed and Young Joanna Sedley-Burke talks about being an LGBTQIA+ widow – and her ambitions to make sure everyone knows about WAY.

Unleashing hope: Michelle’s story

Feb 2025

To mark National Love Your Pet Day, we share how WAY member Michelle followed her dream after she was widowed – setting up an award-winning dog grooming business…

Bridget Jones as a young widow: A WAY member’s review of Mad About the Boy

Feb 2025

To mark the launch of the new Bridget Jones movie that shows Bridget as a young widow, we asked Scottish WAY member Alison to preview it for us…

Reflections on love, loss and happily ever after

Feb 2025

Ahead of the launch of the new Bridget Jones movie this Valentine’s Day eve, WAY Ambassador Emma Charlesworth shares her thoughts on love, loss, judgement – and ‘living happily ever after’ – five year…

LGBT+ History Month: Queer widowhood then and now

Feb 2025

As well as being a time for looking back, LGBT+ History Month is a time for examining where we are now and for looking forward. WAY volunteer Suzanne delved into the Switchboard LGBT+ archives and fou…

Bereavement Support Payments: A lifeline for Stacey on Valentine’s Day

Feb 2025

On the two year anniversary of bereavement benefits being extended to cohabiting parents, we talk to WAY member Stacey about the difference the payments have made…

WAY too much fun in Glasgow

Feb 2025

Last weekend, a group of 19 young widowed people from across the UK descended on Glasgow for a weekend of food, Scottish dancing, whisky drinking and belly laughs...

World Cancer Day: Olivia's story

Feb 2025

This World Cancer Day, we are thinking of everyone who has lost a partner to cancer, including WAY member Olivia, whose husband Graeme died of bowel cancer last January at the age of 41…

Blank Space campaign in parliament today

Feb 2025

WAY Widowed and Young's Blank Space campaign was raised in the House of Commons today by MP Caroline Voaden, who is a former Chair of our charity. Read WAY member Nicola's testimony...

Reimagining your world: Finding rainbows through the storm

Jan 2025

WAY Widowed and Young Ambassador Emma Gray shares how she weathered the storms after she was widowed at a young age, finding light in the darkness as she navigated her bereavement…

You don't have to face widowhood alone.

If you've lost your partner before your 51st birthday and live in the UK – whether you were married or not, with or without children, whatever your sexual orientation, race or religion – you are welcome to join us.

Joining up to WAY takes minutes and costs just £30 a year, which can be paid either by direct debit or PayPal.

“I will always remain a member of WAY as I know that my membership helps WAY to continue to support other members and reach out to new members.

Since WAY has made such a difference to me after being widowed young, I want to do all that I can to help that support continue” - WAY member, Jenny