Members' Stories

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

Campaign to extend bereavement support payments: Sophie’s story

Jul 2024

When Sophie’s husband Paul died in 2023, she was 17 weeks pregnant. Her Bereavement Support Payments are due to stop just after her baby turns one. Here is Sophie’s story…

David’s story: running 400 miles for four charities

Jul 2024

Find out why widowed dad David is running 400 miles for four charities this year, including WAY Widowed and Young.

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.

Finding friendship through WAY: Lisa and Lorraine’s story

Jul 2024

Two WAY members talk about the difference their friendship has made since they were both widowed in their 40s…

Nicky’s story: Finding Chapter 2

Jul 2024

WAY member Nicky Wake explains how joining WAY Widowed and Young inspired her to set up a dating agency for widows and widowers called Chapter 2. Now she’s raising funds for WAY through her company an…

All the threes: How virtual bingo launched a lifelong friendship

Jul 2024

Three WAY members tell the story of how their friendship blossomed through a game of virtual bingo…

WAY volunteer organises glass-blowing activity for young widowed people

Jun 2024

WAY volunteer organises glass-blowing activity to help other young widowed men and women heal…

Volunteers’ Week: Celebrating WAY’s volunteers

Jun 2024

WAY’s National Volunteer Manager Veronica shares a round up of this month’s Volunteers’ Week.

Pride Month: Invitation to LGBT Switchboard webinar

Jun 2024

Find out more about the organisation LGBT Switchboard at an event for WAY members and volunteers…

Young widow organises Euro 2024 sweepstake to support widowed charity

Jun 2024

In memory of her late husband, a young widow has organised a Euro 2024 football sweepstake to raise funds for WAY Widowed and Young – the charity that has provided her with crucial support since her h…

Helen Bailey Blog Award: Meet our 2024 nominees

Jun 2024

Meet our nominees for the 2024 Helen Bailey Award for best blog

Derbyshire weekend: Making lifelong friends through WAY

Jun 2024

WAY member Kate shares her experiences of attending WAY’s Derbyshire weekend

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 describes how he is looking after his own mental and physical wellbeing since his wife died…

Mandy Burrows Award: Meet our 2024 nominees

Jun 2024

Meet our wonderful 2024 nominees for WAY’s Mandy Burrows Award for making an outstanding contribution to our charity.

Building friendships through grief

May 2024

Katie and Nat joined WAY after losing their husbands Oli and Steve in December 2022. Katie was 31 and Nat was 34 at the time.

WAY’s Big Picnic Weekend: A celebration of friendship and support

May 2024

The sun came out for WAY’s Big Picnic weekend, encouraging more than 400 WAY members, friends and family to roll out their picnic blankets at 29 picturesque locations across the country – from Cornwal…

Vicki’s story: Taking on one of UK’s toughest challenges to raise funds for WAY

May 2024

WAY member Vicki explains why she is taking on one of the UK’s toughest physical challenges to raise funds for our charity…

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