Members' Stories

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

LGBT+ History Month: Standing up for LGBT+ rights

Jan 2025

For LGBT+ History Month, we share the story of WAY Widowed and Young member Andrew, who campaigned for same-sex marriage and was able to marry his partner, Jerry, before he died at the age of 30.

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.

WAY Holidays: Looking back on 2024

Jan 2025

Throughout the year, the WAY Operations Team organises a number of weekend breaks across the country that all WAY members can attend. 2024 was no exception…

Coping with Christmas: Tips from WAY members

Dec 2024

Members of WAY share their tips on coping with Christmas when you’ve been widowed young…

Finding light in the darkness: Nicola’s story

Dec 2024

WAY member Nicola lost her husband Dave to cancer six years ago, when she was 38. He was Christian and she is Jewish. She talks about navigating interfaith differences in life and in death – and as Ha…

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…

Transgender Awareness Week: Hear from WAY Ambassador Maria

Nov 2024

This Transgender Awareness Week (13-19 November), we hear from WAY Ambassador Maria about coming out as trans – and the support she’s received from the widowed community…

We remember him every day…

Nov 2024

WAY member Laura Robbins MBE from Bristol is Chair of the RAF Widows’ Association. On Remembrance Day, Laura remembers her husband Nick, who served in the RAF.

Meet two WAY volunteers making a difference in their communities

Mar 2024

Meet two WAY volunteers making a difference in their communities

Lone parenting is an extreme sport with no training

Feb 2024

WAY member Meredith reflects on the relentlessness of widowed parenting – and the importance of asking for help…

National Day of Reflection: Looking back on four years since being widowed to Covid-19

Feb 2024

WAY Ambassador Emma Charlesworth reflects on the rollercoaster of emotions she has navigated since her husband Charlie died after contracting Covid-19 four years ago…

Ramadan as a widowed Muslim mother: Ruba’s story

Feb 2024

We understand how difficult this month can be without your loved one, especially this year when the start of the month coincides with Mother’s Day.

Sophie’s story: Facing the New Year as a new mum

Dec 2023

WAY member Sophie was 17 weeks pregnant when her husband Paul died in a traffic accident earlier this year. She shares how she’ll be making this New Year as special as she can for their newborn daught…

Facing the future with optimism: Claire's Story

Dec 2023

WAY member Claire shares how she is facing the Christmas and the New Year with as much optimism as she can since her husband of 20 years died in January…

Sarah’s story – facing her first Christmas after her husband died

Dec 2023

This will be Sarah’s first Christmas and New Year without Glynn, who died on 3 March 2023. This time last year, Glynn was in and out of hospital before being discharged on New Year’s Eve: “It was such…

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