Members' Stories

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...

Volunteering with WAY in 2024

Jan 2025

As we enter 2025, WAY has almost 200 formal volunteers who have stepped forward to help support the charity and our members in a variety of different ways.

Seven swans a-swimming: WAY’s festive yarnbomb wings its way to Chester

Dec 2024

Creative WAY members have been weaving their yarnbombing magic once again – bringing Christmas cheer to Chester with seven handcrafted swans a-swimming…

International Men’s Day: Building back better as a young widower

Nov 2024

To mark International Men’s Day, WAY member Paolo shares how he rebuilt his life and learned to become a better person after his wife died…

Simon’s story: Finding strength through WAY’s peer-to-peer support

Nov 2024

This International Men’s Day, we ask WAY volunteer Simon how he rebuilt his life after his wife was killed in a road traffic collision…

Gary’s story: Navigating life as a widowed dad

Nov 2024

To mark International Men’s Day, we talk to WAY Trustee Gary about his experiences as a widowed dad…

Summer Book Competition

Jul 2024

WAY Ambassador Sophie met with Rev Richard Coles following a local event and managed to secure a signed copy of his book to give away to WAY members

WAY welcomes two new Trustees

Jul 2024

WAY is pleased to welcome two new members to the charity’s Board of Trustees, both of whom are young widowed fathers.

Men’s Health Week: Helping men navigate bereavement

Jun 2024

To mark Men’s Health Week, we wanted to talk about men and bereavement, and how to help men navigate the challenges of losing their life partner at a young age…

Loneliness Awareness Week: the importance of looking after yourself in widowhood

Jun 2024

To mark this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week, WAY Ambassador Norman shares how his faith, WAY and singing have helped him to combat loneliness...

Men’s Health Week: David’s story

Jun 2024

To mark Men’s Health Week, WAY member David decribes how he is looking after his own mental and physical wellbeing since his wife died…

Charles’ epic challenge: Running 100km for WAY

May 2024

WAY member Charles is taking part in an epic 100km challenge for WAY in May 2024 to help support other young widowed people across the UK…

Walking this WAY: Ed's Story

May 2024

WAY member Ed has walked hundreds of miles and raised more than £10,000 for WAY since his wife died. With more fundraising challenges in store in 2024, Ed shares how walking and WAY have helped...

Dad and husband: Pete's Story

Mar 2024

My journey and what brought me into what I do now as CEO/Founder of the charity Mummy’s Star, began back in mid-2012 when my wife Mair and I learnt that we were to become parents again...

Darren's Story

Dec 2023

WAY member Darren’s husband Chris died in January after suffering a brain aneurysm. The 44-year-old from Sheffield explains how he has navigated the past 11 months without Chris….

Reflecting on Remembrance Day: Matthew’s story

Nov 2023

WAY member Matthew, who’s a serving Navy officer and member of the WAY military subgroup, reflects on how he has navigated many difficult firsts since his wife and stepdaughter died – and how he’s pla…

Advice for looking after your mental health from a WAY Ambassador

Oct 2023

Did you know 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem each year. That could be a family member, a friend, a colleague, or it could be you. WAY Ambassador Norman Smart shares his advice for…

Suicide Awareness: Griffyn’s story

Sept 2023

We share the story of Griffyn, a member of WAY’s LGBTQIA+ community and WAY volunteer, whose husband ended his own life in 2021.

Steven's Story

Jun 2023

Ahead of Father’s Day, Wirral-based WAY member Steven shares his story…

Gavin’s Story: Coping with Father’s Day as a widowed dad

Jun 2023

As Father’s Day approaches, Gavin reflects on his experiences and how he’s coped with his own grief while raising his 8-year-old son, Magnus.

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