Members' Stories

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

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…

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…

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

Meet our 2025 Helen Bailey Blog Award nominees

Jun 2025

Congratulations to our three wonderful nominees, who have been put forward for our 2025 Helen Bailey blog award for best WAY blogger.

Jake’s journey: Navigating life as a widowed dad

Jun 2025

In the run up to Father’s Day, we share the story of widowed dad Jake…

Mandy Burrows Award: Meet our 2025 nominees

Jun 2025

Meet our wonderful 2025 nominees for WAY’s Mandy Burrows Award for making an outstanding contribution to our charity.

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…

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.

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…

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