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Who are WAY Widowed & Young?
WAY Widowed & Young is the only national charity in the UK supporting those aged 50 or under when their partner passed away. It’s a peer-to-peer support group, and – with the help of their network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves – those turning to the charity feel understood and welcome knowing that somebody else has been through their situation too.
About WAY Widowed & Young
The charity was founded in 1997 and now has more than 4,000 members across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. WAY Widowed & Young aims to provide peer-to-peer emotional and practical 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.
How Do WAY Widowed & Young Support their Members?
As a charity, WAY Widowed & Young supports members by empowering them to organise local, national and online events as well as talking to each other using a members’ only website and forums.
During the year, the charity normally organises national holidays including youth hostel trips in Derbyshire and Scotland, PGL trips in Lincolnshire and an AGM, which changes location each year. As WAY is a not-for-profit charity, their group discount is passed on to their members and they also have a fund to support members to attend who would not be able to otherwise.
In addition, they are focussed on supporting the rights of people who’ve been widowed at a young age through their campaign work. They have been campaigning alongside other charities to extend bereavement support to non-married couples, who are currently no eligible for support.
The charity, which is due to celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, also reaches out to potential members to show there is support available by sharing our story in articles, radio interviews and television appearances as well as discussing bereavement and the rights of widows and widowers.
To find out more about WAY Widowed and Young, please see their website at: www.widowedandyoung.org.uk