Members' Stories

Widowed and sober: Karen’s story

Jul 2023

To mark Alcohol Awareness Week, WAY member Karen shares the powerful story of how she battled alcohol dependence after her husband Ben died of cancer – and is now celebrating being five years sober.

Providing a support network for military widows

Jun 2023

To mark Armed Forces Day, we share the story of WAY Ambassador Emma Gray, who has set up a support group for members of our charity who are either serving in the military or whose late partner or spou…

Sweena's Story: International Widows' Day

Jun 2023

23 June is International Widows’ Day, which is a UN awareness day set up to highlight the plight of widows around the world.

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.

Rob shares his story for Men's Health Week

Jun 2023

WAY volunteer Rob shares how the online world helped him to make new friends and stay connected after his wife died for Men's Health Week.

Men’s Health Week: how the Internet is helping young widowed people stay connected

Jun 2023

To mark this year’s Men’s Health Week, which turns the spotlight on men and the Internet, WAY Ambassador Norman Smart shares how going online has helped him to stay connected through the pandemic and …

Congratulations to our 2023 Mandy Burrows Memorial Award nominees

May 2023

Congratulations to all of our wonderful nominees, who have been put forward for our 2023 Mandy Burrows memorial award for outstanding contribution to WAY over the past year.

Our Helen Bailey Blog Award nominees 2023

May 2023

Congratulations to all of our wonderful nominees, who have been put forward for our 2023 Helen Bailey blog award for best WAY blogger.

WAY members on camera

May 2023

Earlier this year, a film crew from the Smiley Movement spent a few hours with 60 WAY Widowed and Young members and their children at one of our family adventure weekends at PGL Caythorpe near Grantha…

Ian's Story: Challenging National Insurance discrimination

Apr 2023

When he was widowed to Covid-19 in 2020, WAY volunteer Ian from Coventry was shocked to hear that his family wasn’t entitled to Bereavement Support Payments either, because – like Suzzi – his wife had…

Standing up to discrimination: Daniel's Story

Apr 2023

In September 2022, WAY member Daniel won a landmark High Court victory that could help dozens more widowed people claim Bereavement Support Payments in future… 

Marking National Day of Reflection: Emma’s reflections

Mar 2023

Today, 23 March, has become known as the National Day of Reflection. Set up by the charity Marie Curie, it takes place on the anniversary of the day that then Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed the U…

Ramadan as a young Muslim widow: Ruba’s story

Mar 2023

Ramadan Mubarak to all of those in the Muslim community and to our Muslim members. We understand how difficult it can be to experience this month without your loved one, so South London-based WAY memb…

Flying High: Amanda's Story

Mar 2023

WAY Widowed and Young member Amanda from Scotland shares how she took up flying as a new focus after her husband Davie died. You can read more about Amanda’s story in the April 2023 issue of Prima mag…

"Will there be other people like us?" - Pete's Story

Mar 2023

When Pete's first WAY Forward newsletter fell onto the doormat, the PGL weekend in February immediately piqued his interest.

Extending Bereavement Support Payments: Lauren’s story

Mar 2023

When Lauren’s husband Rob died last June, she started to receive the first of 18 monthly instalments of Bereavement Support Payment to help support herself and her daughter, Amelia. Although she was g…

Siobhan's Story: Cohabiting Couples Campaign

Feb 2023

When Siobhan discovered through conversations with Citizen’s Advice that parents who were not married or in a civil partnership were unable to claim the support available at that time to married paren…

Kathy's Story: Cohabiting Couples Campaign

Feb 2023

WAY Ambassador Kathy Ford lost her partner Keith in November 2018 to a sudden heart attack. They had been together for 19 years and had two sons together. In June 2019, Kathy gave evidence to the Work…

Elanor shares her story to support our Cohabiting Couples Campaign

Feb 2023

Elanor’s partner Robin died in 2005 after a motorbike accident. She was pregnant with their only daughter Sophie when Robin died and has struggled for the past 17 years to bring up Sophie as a lone pa…

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