WAY Memorial Fund: Helping WAY members who are struggling financially

September 2024

We are well aware that, as a result of bereavement and its consequences, many people can struggle financially.

WAY Widowed and Young’s Memorial Fund was set up to support WAY members who may need help to enjoy the benefits of membership. Currently there are funds available to help our members with both the payment of their annual membership fees and to attend WAY-organised events in the UK.

Over the past year, through the Memorial Fund, we have committed £4,000 in support to help:

-        118 WAY members (101 new members and 12 renewing members)

-        Six WAY members who wanted to attend WAY-organised events

Hear from our members

Scott’s story

Scott joined WAY in early 2020, thanks to support from the Memorial Fund. At the time Scott was living below the bread line and was finding it a struggle to juggle feeding and clothing his son with the cost of electricity and gas so there were no spare funds to pay for WAY membership.

Without the Memorial Fund, Scott would not have had the opportunity to gain much-needed support. Today, he is a volunteer for WAY – giving back to the charity that has offered him so much support.

Katie’s story

Katie made the decision to start a full-time degree at Aberystwyth University to help provide a better future for her family after her fiancé died. Being financially dependent on student finance and universal credit, money was tight. She decided she wouldn’t be able to afford to renew her WAY membership, but when she found out about the Memorial Fund, she decided to apply. 

“Quickly my application was accepted,” she recalls. “A wave of relief washed over me as I realised I wouldn’t have to let go of that important segment of support. I was so grateful to WAY and all of those who had kindly donated to the Memorial Fund. To give back, I ran the Cardiff Half Marathon in 2022 and raised nearly £1,000 for WAY, which [at the time] equated to 40 membership payments for those who needed them. Especially with the cost of living being so high, plus the huge financial hardship and uncertainty widowhood can bring, the Memorial Fund is a valuable and important asset of WAY.”

If you, or a member you know, would like to apply for assistance through our Memorial Fund, please apply here.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

If you would like to raise funds for our Memorial Fund, please visit our fundraising pages.

Did you know that you can also buy a Gift Membership for WAY members?