Charity: Widowed and Young (WAY)

Widowed and Young (WAY) is the only national charity in the UK for men and women aged 50 or under when their partner died. Founded in 1997, the charity provides vital support to young, widowed people – married or not, with or without children, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender, race and religion – as they adjust to life after the death of their partner. WAY offers a unique peer-to-peer support network to anyone who’s been widowed at a young age. Talking to and socialising with others who’ve been through a similar experience can be a lifeline when adjusting to life after loss. At a local level, WAY is run by a network of over 170 volunteers spread out across the UK who have all been widowed themselves, so they understand how it feels. We have a network of Area Contact volunteers spanning over 62 home groups who welcome new members and support members to organise events at a local level. We also have a range of online forums and regular meetings which support peer-to-peer support, bereavement resources for young widows and telephone support services which offer counselling, in-the-moment support, legal and financial advice.