## Annual Report 2024
www.widowedandyoung.org.uk Support. Understanding. Friendship
Registered Charity No: 1164988
95% of WAY members said that WAY membership of £30 per year is
Introduction
## Our Story
A word from WAY’s Chief Executive and Chair
Welcome to WAY Widowed and Young’s 2024 Annual Report.
our website with limited funds and capacity available. This remains an ongoing area of focus for the charity.
Firstly, and most significantly, we would like to thank our community of wonderful members who have continued to embody what WAY is all about.
We also launched a new counselling service delivered by our valued partner, bereavement specialists Professional Help.
The cost-of-living crisis has continued to affect our members with 71%** reporting that they are concerned about their finances. We were able to support members who were struggling to meet the cost of the membership fee by increasing the amount available in WAY’s Memorial Fund in 2024.
WAY is a club that nobody wants to be eligible to join, but our members are so glad that they have found us – and we continue to be inspired by the incredible support that is shared across our community.
There were an unbelievable 1,143 events organised by WAY and our members across the UK in 2024, which helped our members to find other people who understand what they are going through (see p8 for more on our events).
Despite the tough financial environment, our fantastic fundraisers exceeded our expectations and our substantial reserves still allowed us to continue to invest funds in developing member services and activities to increase the reach of the charity. WAY does not receive any statutory funding and is reliant on every penny raised, so we would like to thank every single person who has supported WAY in 2024 (see p11 for more on fundraising).
This year WAY has supported 4,523 people who have been widowed young, including 1,508 new members. However, we know that there are many more young widows who have yet to find us – as there are sadly nearly 24,000* people aged 18-50 who die every year.
We still have a lot of work to do to try and reach these people and ensure that anyone who needs WAY can find us. To help achieve this goal, we have continued to engage with the media and work alongside other bereavement networks. In 2024, we reached more than 2,000 bereavement professionals at events and conferences and the audiences of 66 media outlets to help spread the word about our charity.
Our superb volunteers have continued to provide the foundations upon which WAY’s peer-to-peer networks are built. We are incredibly fortunate to have so many volunteers who are passionate about supporting WAY members (read more on p10).
We would also like to say a huge thank you to our strategic partners – the law firm Irwin Mitchell and child bereavement charity Winston’s Wish – who have both helped us to increase the reach of the charity and to improve services to our members (see p15 for more).
## Improving our services
Over the last few years, many of our members have fed back that WAY’s member-only platform was difficult to use, and the charity has worked hard to raise funds to invest in this area of member services. Following the launch of our new Members Hub in 2023, 2024 saw the continued bedding in of the new system. We have continued to listen to our members and make improvements to the members area and the public facing pages of
We are sincerely grateful to all of our committed volunteers, trustees and dedicated staff team who make sure WAY is a lifeline for so many of our members.
Stephanie Patrick, Chief Executive Joanna Sedley-Burke, Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Based on ONS death figures 2023.
WAY is the only national charity in the UK for people aged 50 or under when their partner died.
Founded in 1997, it’s a club that nobody wants to be eligible to join, but we are so glad that our members find us. We provide a safe space for people who have been widowed at a young age – offering friendship, support and understanding.
WAY offers a unique peer-to-peer support network, led by volunteers who have all been bereaved at a young age themselves so they understand exactly what other members are going through.
As well as offering a secure members only website and opportunities to meet and chat online and in person, our members also have access to a confidential telephone support line offering bereavement counselling, legal and financial advice.
WAY also raises awareness of issues affecting those widowed young, campaigns on current issues such as changes to bereavement benefits and seeks out opportunities to publicise the existence of the charity wherever possible, through the media and other avenues, to show that there is support out there to help people navigate life after loss.
“WAY has provided invaluable support and advice. I have formed friendships and connections with other widows and gained a community of people who understand, so I feel less alone in my grief. Taking out a WAY membership was one of the best decisions I have ever made and being a member still makes the world of difference in my life.”
WAY Member
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3
Photo © Helen Cotton Photography
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> * Based on member responses in WAY's Annual Impact Survey June 2025.
** Based on member responses in WAY's Annual Impact Survey June 2025.
## WAY in Numbers
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WAY impacted the lives of
4,523
young widows in 2024
helping them to navigate
their bereavement by
offering friendship,
support and
understanding.
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WAY members organised 1,143 in person and virtual events in 2024 (up 28% on 2023).
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184 amazing volunteers
helped to support our work throughout the year (up 8%).
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Generous supporters raised £150,000, helping us to reach more people in need of support.
- 178 young widowed people received financial assistance through our Memorial Fund.
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## Our Impact in 2024
##
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Our small team of
78% of members found 5 employed
that meeting people in the members of staff
same situation has helped.* continued to support
our members.
85% of members felt
that they had better
82% felt less isolated.*
knowledge about grief and
bereavement.*
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82% felt less isolated.*
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More than 129,449
separate
30,000 people
communications
helped us to
were sent out to our
spread the word by
members
following us across
throughout the year.
our social media
channels.
66 pieces of press 76,426 people
coverage were visited our website
generated in 2024. in 2024.
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* Based on member responses in WAY's Annual Impact Survey June 2025.
## Our Members
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1,508 new members joined WAY’s
97% of
peer support network in 2024.
members would recommend
WAY to other people*
67%
of members renewed their
membership.
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## Demographics
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Gender Age
2% 20-29
21%
17%
Male
36% 30-39
50+
79% Female
46% 40-49
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With/without children
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Diversity
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6% of new members
3% of WAY identify as LGBTQIA+
members
31% live with a 11% of new members
without disability come from minority
children
ethnic communities
69% with children
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- Based on member responses in WAY's Annual Impact Survey June 2025.
## Our Member Services
WAY continued to provide a range of vital services and support for all of our members as they navigate their bereavement journey, including:
Improving our telephone support services, which include bereavement counselling provided by Professional Help as well as legal and financial advice offered by Irwin Mitchell.
- 140 people made use of these telephone support services in 2024.
- 78% of members who used the telephone counselling service found it helpful.*
- Between them, WAY members and volunteers organised 1,143 events via our Member Hub
- 248 online events were held for members.
- Our closed Facebook group and a large range of subgroups were accessed by 78% of members.
- 178 members were supported financially through our Memorial Fund (this included payment of membership for 148 new members).
- Based on member responses in WAY's Annual Impact Survey June 2025.
We took the difficult decision to increase WAY’s membership fee from £25 to £30 per year in 2024. The cost of WAY membership had remained unchanged for more than a decade and during this time, the cost of goods and services has continued to rise steadily. At £2.50 per month, we believe WAY membership represents exceptional value for money.
In 2024, we also made the decision to move our member newsletter WAY Forward to a digital platform to help save paper and transport emissions. Members can still opt to receive a printed version of the newsletter if they prefer.
“WAY has helped massively with feelings of loneliness and bereavement. The new member Zooms allowed me a safe space to interact with others at a time when face-to-face was overwhelming, and the national nature of them meant there was always someone at a similar stage. The face-to-face groups have given me a new group of people who aren’t scared of the word death and who may I think develop into
friendships outside the WAY umbrella.” WAY Member
7
## Events
Across the UK, WAY members came together in a variety of ways – from relaxed catch-ups in local parks, cafés and pubs to virtual get-togethers like online bingo, quizzes, yoga classes and book discussions.
These events are largely made possible by the enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers and members, who help to coordinate activities through 62 local groups covering every corner of the UK – from the Highlands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall and from Wales to Northern Ireland.
WAY’s Operations Team also organised four national events during the year for members across the country to get together with other young widowed people and their families:
## Big Picnic weekend
More than 400 WAY members, friends and family rolled out their picnic blankets at 29 picturesque picnic locations across the country for our sunny Big Picnic weekend in May 2024 – from Cornwall to Cumbria and from Belfast to Glasgow.
## Weekends aWAY
Nearly 100 WAY members and children headed to PGL Caythorpe Court near Grantham for a weekend of adventure in February. The two days were full of laughter, kindness and camaraderie.
In June, 52 members and children got together in Derbyshire over the Father’s Day weekend to enjoy activities including high ropes, kata canoes and go karting – and to make new memories together.
In September, more than 70 members headed to Crewe for the charity’s biggest annual gathering – our Annual General Meeting and Spa Retreat, which also included a dinner dance.
“WAY has been a lifeline. I had no friends that had any idea how I felt until I joined WAY. Losing your partner is the most devastating experience and finding people who just get it has been incredibly helpful and the support has been amazing.”
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WAY Member
## Campaigning for Change
It’s a core part of WAY’s mission to raise awareness and understanding among the public of the needs of people who are widowed and young – and to campaign on their behalf.
We continued to remind people of deadlines to apply for retrospective payments after our decade-long campaign to extend bereavement benefit payments to cohabiting couples with dependent children.
In 2024, we launched our Stand up for Bereaved Families campaign to coincide with the July General Election. We encouraged our members and supporters to write to newly elected MPs after the election to ask them to support our calls to:
- Extend Bereavement Support Payments beyond 18 months and uprate payments.
- Extend Bereavement Support Payments to cohabiting couples without children.
- • Reconsider National Insurance eligibility for Bereavement Support Payment applicants.
Our campaign got off to a flying start when we attracted media coverage on Radio 4’s MoneyBox show in July, which was also mentioned on the main Radio 4 and Radio 2 news bulletins.
We were also thrilled when the Liberal Democrats passed a motion at their autumn conference in support of extending bereavement benefits. We were able to meet with former WAY Chair and South Devon MP Caroline Voaden in November to enlist her support for our key campaign asks.
Our Chair Joanna Sedley-Burke and Chief Executive Stephanie Patrick were also invited to the Houses of Parliament by Thurrock MP Jen Craft to discuss our Blank Space campaign, which is calling for the birth registration process to be made simpler and more compassionate for mothers whose partner died before their baby’s birth was registered.
WAY Ambassador and Blank Space campaigner Orlanda Bryars shared her story at the Irwin Mitchell Bereavement Conference in December and we are looking forward to continuing to work together towards birth certificate equality for non-married mothers.
## Bill on Assisted Dying
Our Chief Executive was also invited to Westminster to present WAY members’ thoughts and experiences around the Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally ll Adults to MPs and bereavement charity leaders at an event convened by the bereavement signposting organisation At a Loss in November.
Although WAY remains neutral on this bill, we were keen to make sure that WAY members had the chance to share their experiences to help inform MPs on this very important issue ahead of a key parliamentary second reading held on 29 November 2024.
A survey of WAY members showed that more than one third of respondents believe the Bill would have made their bereavement easier; one third said it would have made no difference, one quarter said they weren’t sure and the remaining 6% felt that it would have made their experience more difficult.
As a Steering Group member of the All Parliamentary Group on Grief Support and the Impact of Death on Society, we continue to be involved in discussions as the Bill moves through the parliamentary process.
“The Blank Space campaign is something so close to my heart, and yet for ages it felt like an impossible task to try to achieve or run or to make any difference. Without WAY’s contributions, determination and support, I really feel I would have given up.”
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Orlanda, WAY Ambassador
* Based on member responses in WAY's Annual Impact Survey June 2025.
Our Volunteers
The vast majority of WAY volunteers are members themselves, juggling everyday life, their grief and whatever challenges come their way – yet they step forward to support others along their journey too. WAY simply could not do what it aims to do without them!
At the end of 2024, WAY had 184 volunteers
covering 207 different roles, which is 8% up on the previous year. Roles range from local area contacts, who welcome new members to an area; setting up local area events; being admins and moderators of WAY’s closed Facebook subgroups; hosting online discussion groups and activities; being Trustees and ensuring good governance of the charity; helping with diversity working groups; raising awareness of the charity and supporting campaigns; attending bereavement network events or using specialist skills to help support the charity in a very focused way.
WAY’s online presence continues to be important to members who need to be able to connect with others who ‘get it’. Due to member feedback, and with the support of volunteers, WAY expanded our online events to encourage members to connect in meaningful ways.
While continuing to offer regular weekly or monthly online activities such as bingo, book club, quizzes and yoga, volunteers have also enabled the increase of Zoom events for those who have been widowed for more than a year and the addition of online spaces for those bereaved by suicide, bereaved suddenly or widowed before their 36th birthday.
WAY listens to members and when asked, members step forward to volunteer and respond by offering what support they can.
184 volunteers covered 207 volunteer roles – with some volunteers helping in multiple roles.
We saw an 8% increase in formal volunteers in 2024 compared to 2023.
## 93% of members have volunteers in their local areas.
WAY was built by volunteers and they continue to drive our peer-to-peer support network across the UK.
“Being a volunteer for WAY allows me to share my experience, the advice I have been given and the resources I have used with others. I also find it important to be able to give back to the charity as I have gained so much and have had such good support over the last five years.”
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## Raising Funds for WAY
WAY does not receive any government funding, so we rely entirely on memberships, donations and fundraising to support our members. In 2024, our supporters achieved some remarkable fundraising successes, and collectively raised an impressive £150,080 (inc Gift Aid)* for WAY.
## Here are some of the highlights:
- A team of seven amazing WAY members, including Xavier (pictured above), took part in the Ultra Challenge Winter Walk – raising more than £2,000. While WAY members Charles and Ed walked their way to raising more than £800 between them through gruelling walking challenges.
- WAY supporter Tom and member Jez raised more than £4,700 by taking on the London Marathon in April, while member Suzanne raised over £400 for WAY in the Great North Run.
- Member Vicki also raised over £300 by taking part in the military yomp – the Fan Dance in June.
- WAY member Cheri and her two friends Jessica and Rosanna completed a Tough Mudder in April raising over £2,600; and member Laura and her friend Kate then took on Tough Mudder in September and raised £1,854.
- WAY member David took part in a mammoth four-charity fundraiser over the year, raising more than £700 for WAY.
- WAY members Karli and Leona raised £1,855 in lieu of wedding gifts.
- WAY’s Volunteer Manager Veronica took part in four Kiltwalk events; she was joined by various members at different locations and together they raised £2,293.
- WAY supporters Daniel, Hugh, Lee and Sam took part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October raising £7,786 between them for WAY.
- Through her tenure as Ladies Captain at her local golf club, WAY member Catherine raised more than £3,800 in 2024.
## Huge thanks to all our fantastic fundraisers who help make our work possible!
## We’d also like to thank the following companies and foundations that have supported WAY in 2024:
- Irwin Mitchell, who joined in our Santa run raising £1,260 – Irwin Mitchell also awarded a £10,000 grant that was used to boost our Memorial Fund.
-
- A team from Build Recruitment, who raised £7,120 for WAY.
-
- David from Senitor Recruitment, who put on a family fun day and golf weekend, raising an incredible £14,307 for WAY.
-
- Clench Widows donated more than £13,000.
-
- WAY received generous donations of £3,867 from Aberdeen Crematorium and from Worthing Crematorium and £1,000 from Berkshire Crematorium through the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM).
## How your support helps
pays for access to the members area of our website
pays for a member to access pays for a year’s funded our helpline for a year membership of WAY
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pays for a member to access a funded place on a WAY weekend break
pays to train a WAY volunteer
If you’re interested in fundraising, please get in touch at fundraising@widowedandyoung.org.uk
* All figures include Gift Aid.
Alison, WAY Volunteer
Financial Review
## WAY’s Board
## Accounts to the end of December 2024
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## Income & Expenditure Account
||2024|2023||
|---|---|---|---|
|Income|£|£||
|Membership Fees|128,235||121,080|
|Donations & Fundraising|113,635||107,421|
|Other Income|5,764||2,735|
|Gift Aid|36,445||29,796|
|TOTAL INCOME|284,079||261,032|
|Expenditure
Staf Costs
Other Ofce/Admin Costs|181,694
23,199||210,416
24,951|
|Publications/Media/PR|43,748||44,624|
|Website|22,183||22,926|
|Helpline|13,333||18,996|
|Memorial Fund|5,615||5,230|
|Other|6,333||5,860|
|TOTAL EXPENDITURE|296,105||333,003|
|Net Surplus/(Defcit) for the year|(12,026)||(71,971)|
## Balance Sheet
||CURRENT ASSETS
Fixed Assets
IT
Debtors
Gift Aid
Investment Accounts|2024
£
22,795
8,282|£
31,077
121,813|
|---|---|---|---|
||Current Accounts
Less Uncleared Payments/(Credits)|22,790
8,264||
||||31,054|
|||||
||Set Aside Funds|||
||Gift Membership|(525)||
||||(525)|
||CURRENT LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED INCOME|||
||Liabilities|(18,047)||
||Events
TOTAL Assets|(6,275)|(24,322)
159,097|
||FINANCED BY:|||
||Accumulated Surplus Brought Forward||171,123|
||Net Defcit/(Surplus)for the Year||(12,026)|
||||159,097|
## WAY Trustees 2024
|At|our 2024 AGM in Cheshire:|Trustee|Appointed|
|---|---|---|---|
|•|WAY members approved the|Stuart Scarbrough|2016|
|•|re-appointment of trustee Mike
Etherington, who has been on
WAY’s board since 2020.
AGM attendees also approved
the appointment of new
trustees Sarah Bowsher, Nadir
Keshani and Gary McFarlane,
who are all WAY members.|Jo Sedley-Burke (Chair)
Kate Spikings (formerly Siegler)
Louise Fisher (formerly Dodds)
Mike Etherington
Bobbie Kelly
Marcos Eleftheriou
Sarah Bowsher|2018
2019
2019
2020
2023
2023
2024|
|•|Graham Briscoe resigned from
the Board following six years’|Nadir Keshani
Gary McFarlane|2024
2024|
||service as an external WAY|||
||trustee.|||
- Thank you to WAY's trustees, who continue to ensure that the charity receives strong governance, driven by the needs of young widowed people.
“After organising events for the Glasgow area for a few years, I eventually signed up as an official WAY volunteer. Then, when the chance came round to be a trustee, I was interested right away. I wanted to be part of giving back to the charity that has done a lot for me as well as hopefully providing help to others.”
Gary McFarlane, Trustee
13
## Strategy and Charity Objectives
## Our Strategic Partnerships
## Irwin Mitchell
WAY members help to shape our future and, after going through an organisational transformation in 2018, WAY carried out a range of consultations with our members to help inform the direction our charity should take in the future. We carried out an extensive survey of our members and volunteers to work out the best way forward as our charity continues to grow.
From this, our 2021-2026 five-year Strategic Plan was born, which reflects the views of all our members and volunteers to make sure the charity meets their needs, to draw out our long-term ambitions, to help outline our organisational priorities and to reflect our new structure.
WAY’s Strategic Plan was developed in line with recommendations drawn from reports and takes on feedback from our members, staff and volunteers. We would like to thank everyone who offered their valuable input – from completing WAY surveys to attending meetings, from talking to our team to taking part in working groups.
Our Strategic Plan is split into three key areas:
Our strategic partnership with legal firm Irwin Mitchell was launched in 2023 and this led them to take over the financial and legal aspect of our telephone support line in 2024, resulting in 209 calls being taken throughout the year. They have also provided tailored support through a series of webinars on welfare benefits and wealth management as well as topics including inquests.
Irwin Mitchell have been fantastic supporters of WAY, giving us opportunities to share our work with their company and speak at their annual bereavement conference. In 2024, they donated over £10,000 to WAY, provided meeting spaces for our staff and volunteers and helped to develop a “How to Guide” for our Blank Space campaign.
“I personally have received counselling support and have also made good use of the helpline on days where the loss of Ross was all too much to manage.”
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WAY Member and Fundraiser, Fiona
## Winston’s Wish
WAY and the child bereavement charity Winston’s Wish partnered in 2023 to provide full circle support for the whole family following a bereavement. As well as referring bereaved families to each other’s services, the two charities have joined forces to provide tips and advice to help parents as they support their bereaved children. These have been published in our newsletters and on our websites.
In 2024, we also began partnering on campaign and policy work, advocating for improved services and experiences for bereaved families both now and in the future.
“For anyone else on the same path as me, I really would recommend getting in touch with Winston’s Wish and WAY. You never feel completely alone, even when the grief makes you feel totally isolated.”
15
WAY Member and mother of two, Chloe
## WAY’s Mission
“To offer unique support for those aged 50 or under when their partner died, through an inclusive peer-led network based upon mutual self-help. WAY also campaigns to raise awareness and understanding of the issues affecting those widowed young, and to influence relevant policy.”
## WAY’s Vision
“To ensure ALL those eligible to be members are aware of WAY and have access to the peer-to-peer network and support that WAY offers.”
## WAY’s Values
Caring Respectful Innovative Valued Transparent
www.widowedandyoung.org.uk Registered Charity No: 1164988 Email: enquiries@widowedandyoung.org.uk | Telephone: 0300 201 0051 Registered Address: Advantage House, Stowe Court, Stowe Street, Lichfield WS13 6AQ
## **Charity Registration Number 1164988**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
**3S Accountancy** Chartered Accountants
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**CONTENTS**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Members of the board and professional advisers|1|
|Annual report of the trustees|2|
|Statement of fnancial activities (incorporating inc|7|
|and expenditure account)||
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the fnancial statements|9|
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS**
## **Trustees**
||Trustees who served|during the year and|
|---|---|---|
||up to the date of this|report were as|
||follows:||
||Graham Briscoe|Resigned 21/09/2024|
||Ramanjit Janack||
||Marcos Eleftheriou||
||Sarah Bowsher|Appointed 03/02/2024|
||Katherine Denise Siegler||
||Stuart Alan Scarbrough||
||**Joanna Sedley-BurkChair**||
||Gary McFarlane|Appointed 1/07/2024|
||Roberta Kelly||
||Nadir Keshani|Appointed 20/04/2024|
|**Secretary**|Current Vacancy||
|**Key management**|**personne**Stephanie Patrick|Chief Executive appointed Aug 21|
|**Registered ofce**|Advantage House||
||Stowe Court||
||Stowe Street||
||Lichfeld||
||WS13 6AQ||
|**Trading address**|N/A||
|**Accountants**|3S Accountancy Services||
||Chartered Accountants||
||5-8 Priestgate||
||Darlington||
||DL1 1NL||
|**Bankers**|CAF Bank Limited||
||25 Kings Hill Avenue||
||Kings Hill, West Malling||
||Kent||
||ME19 4JQ||
|**Charity number**|1164988||
**1**
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
The trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014. Legal and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report.
## **STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
WAY was established in 1997 and is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with an association Governing Document (the constitution). This was registered on 29 December 2015, amended on 4th March 2017, 18th September 2021 and 10th September 2022. The Charitable Objects were updated on 10th September 2022 to include 'gender, race and religion'.
The trustees meet at least five times a year, trustees serving during the period 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 are listed on page 1.
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration for duties carried out as a trustee. However, trustees claimed out of pocket expenses while undertaking volunteer duties during the year and reimbursement of any expenditure incurred purchasing goods and services required by the charity. The trustees may also be members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.
At every Annual General Meeting, trustees who have served a term of 3 years are required to retire, but they are permitted to be re-elected or re-appointed by the members for a maximum of 3 consecutive terms or 9 years. At any one time, the constitution stipulates there should be a minimum of five Trustees. Members are also able to appoint two Trustees that are not WAY members.
## **OBJECTIVES**
The objectives of the Charity are:
i. To advance the education of the public to raise the awareness of the needs of people who are widowed and young.
ii. to relieve persons in need, following bereavement by offering a peer-to-peer support network for anyone aged 50 or under, at time of bereavement, who is overcoming the loss of a partner, married or not, with or without children, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender, race and religion.
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES continued YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
WAY is the only national charity in the UK for people aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-to-peer support group operating with a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves, so they understand exactly what other members are going through.
WAY was founded in 1997 and had 4,523 members across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at the end of 2024. The charity aims to provide peer-to-peer support to young widowed people – married or not, with or without children, inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender, race and religion – as they adjust to life after the death of their partner.
In 2024 the cost-of-living crisis continued to affect the nation. We met the ongoing demand for our services and were able to support members who were struggling to meet the cost of the membership fee by doubling the amount available in WAY’s Memorial Fund. Strategic partnerships with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and child bereavement charity Winston’s Wish impacted positively to both the reach of the charity and to improve services to our members. Despite the tough financial environment being faced, Community Fundraising exceeded expectation and showed 4% increase year on year. Following the completion of the development of the new members hub, the Digital Marketing role was reduced from a full to a part time role, which resulted in the movement of staff. Our substantial reserves still allowed us to continue to invest funds in developing member services and activities to increase the reach of the charity. Whilst it is difficult to summarise everything that WAY has been involved in over the last 12 months, we have included key achievements below.
**Membership** – the year closed with 4,523 members, which included 1,508 new members. Member retention rates have dropped slightly with 68% choosing to renew their membership this year. We continue to work hard to listen to our members and respond to their needs, however the sharp increase in applications to the memorial fund and the slight drop in membership numbers signify that members are struggling to meet membership fees.
**Volunteers** - WAY ended the year with 184 volunteers covering 207 roles across the UK, up 8% year-on-year. WAY volunteers are the backbone of the charity and WAY is incredibly fortunate to have so many members who are so passionate about supporting WAY. WAY's Volunteer Manager has provided invaluable support to our volunteers and has offered them chance to network and access training. Out of the 62 regions, 56 areas are covered by at least one Area Contact Volunteer, meaning that 84% of WAY regions are covered by a local volunteer member
Through our members-only website, our volunteers and members can organise their own in-person meet-ups - from walks in the park, to group meals to virtual online events. There were 1,143 events hosted in 2024, which was a 23% increase year on year and 3,831 attendees. This included: 109 new member zooms; 228 Online Events; 44% were food and drinks events.
**3**
## **WAY Widowed and Young ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES continued YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE continued**
members platform is difficult to use, and the charity has worked hard to raise funds to invest in this area of member services. The new Members Hub was launched on 1st October 2023 and 2024 saw the continued bedding in of the new system as members became accustomed to it. The Website Working Group have focused on continuing improvements to the members area and the public facing A f k b thi h i l d d it h lth i i SEO **Social Media** - We continued to make strides on all our social media platforms, having a combined following which exceeds 30k. All of our social media platforms showed a strong performance in 2024, helping us to reach out to new audiences.
**Media Coverage** –WAY was featured in 66 media opportunities throughout the year including TV, Press and Radio which was 40% les than 2023. Media features show a substantial drop year-on-year because of focus on the Bereavement Allowance legislation changes in February 2023.
**Awareness-raising** - WAY continued to work alongside other bereavement charities and networks to achieve our shared goals. Our staff spoke about WAY at various conferences which included a Bereavement Conference in Manchester and Suicide and Co Annual Conference in London. WAY hosted a stand at various national events including the National Suicide Conference, National Funeral Exhibition Conference and Compassionate Communities Conference which directly reached over 2,000 bereavement professionals and led to relationships being developed at various hospices. WAY also continues working alongside other bereavement charities as part of the National Bereavement Alliance and to promote National Grief Awareness Week and sits on the National Childhood Bereavement steering group
**Fundraising** - 2024 proved to be a successful year for fundraising despite the cost of living crisis. The year saw a variety of individual virtual fundraisers and a growth in Facebook Birthday Fundraisers. WAY members ran several successful fundraising campaigns, including participation in events such as the London Parks Half Marathon, Kiltwalks and London Marathon. Corporate partners who also raised funds included Irwin Mitchell and Build Recruitment. Notable donations came in from Clench Widows of £13k and David Atherton of £14k from a Family fun day in Memory of a WAY members late husband.
## **WAY AGM 2024**
Every year since WAY was launched in 1997, the charity has held an Annual General Meeting (AGM). The annual gathering incorporating the AGM is the biggest WAY event of the year and has become a fixed and key point in the charity’s social calendar. WAY's 2024 AGM was held at Crewe Hall in Cheshire and was attended by 76 members in person and 41 virtually.
4
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES continued YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **Income**
As previously, income for the current year came from three main sources:
- Membership Fees
- Fundraising
- Donations and Grants
Our membership numbers have steadied this year at 4,523 members. Membership fees have been increased for the first time in 10 years, therefore income from new memberships and renewals has grown to £128,235 (2023 - £121,080). Membership fundraising activities showed an increase compared to the previous year at £48,223 (2023 £32,982 ) despite the ongoing 'cost of living' crisis. And during 2024, despite the sector-wide difficulties in generating charitable donations, we saw only a small decline in revenue from external donations and grants to £65,402 (2023 £74,439)
As always we wish to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those who have worked hard to raise funds or make a donation in 2024. This support is invaluable in providing the resources needed to continue the charity's work.
The trustees have complied with the duty in the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
## **Reserves**
The Charity's policy, as decided by the Board of Trustees is to maintain reserves at the level of 50% of anticipated running costs for the coming year. With total funds of just over £159k at the end of the year, our reserves remain above that level. This year trustees made the decision to invest surplus funds in interest saving accounts using a Flagstone platform which is a low risk investment tool.
It has, for a while, been a key challenge for the Charity to identify how and where to best use surplus funds to support our members and to reach more of those eligible to become members. To this end the Board has invested funds during 2024 in making the short-term contract of of WAY’s Membership and Finance Officer into a permanent position. This has resulted in a new deficit during the year of £12,025 (2023 deficit of £71,971) but this level of deficit is not expected to recur.
## **Risk management**
The trustees have assessed the risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks
## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities**
The Charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom accounting standards for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
b) observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
c) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
d) state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; e) prepare the Financial Statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue operating.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the board on . . . 26th April 2025. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and signed on its behalf
Joanna Sedley-Burke Chair
**5**
WAY Widowed and Young
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## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (incorporating Income and Expenditure Ac**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Restricted**
**£**
**£**
**Incoming Resources**
Income from:
Donations and legacies
**2**
282,829
-
**Total**
**284,079**
**-**
**Resources Expended**
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
26,560
-
Charitable activities
267,774
1,770
**Total**
**4**
**294,334**
**1,770**
**Net income / (expenditure)**
**(10,255)**
**(1,770)**
**Transfers between funds**
-
-
**Net movement in funds**
**(10,255)**
**(1,770)**
**Fund balances brought forward at**
**1 JANUARY 2024**
169,353
1,770
**Fund balances carried forward at**
**31 DECEMBER 2024**
**10**
**159,098**
**-**
**Unrestricted**|
**2024**
**£**
**282,829**
**284,079**
**26,560**
**269,544**
**296,104**
**(12,025)**
**-**
**(12,025)**
**171,123**
**159,098**|**2023**
**£**
**259,675**|
|---|---|---|
|||**261,032**|
|||26,015
306,986|
|||**333,001**|
|||**(71,969)**
-|
|||(71,969)
243,094|
|||**171,125**|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
**7**
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed Assets**
Intangible Assets
**11**
Tangible Assets
**11**
Debtors and prepayments
**8**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors**
Amounts falling due within one **9**
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted funds
**Total charity funds**
**10**|**2024**|**2024**|**2023**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**
**8,282**
**152,868**
**161,150**
**(24,846)**|**£**
**21,897**
**898**|**£**
**6,113**
**163,018**
**169,131**
**(34,824)**|**£**
**35,709**
**1,107**|
|||**22,795**
**136,303**||**36,816**
**134,307**|
|||**159,098**||**171,123**|
|||**159,098**
**-**||**169,353**
**1,770**|
|||**159,098**||**171,123**|
These financial statements were approved and signed by the trustees and authorised for issue on
## **Joanna Sedley-Burke : Chair**
The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
**8**
**WAY Widowed and Young**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies**
The following accounting policies have been used consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the charity's accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting **(i)** Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011.
The accounts ahave been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the notes to these accounts.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.
## **(ii) Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.
## **(iii) Incoming resources**
Income is accounted for on an accruals basis. Grants are recognised as an incoming resource when the conditions for the receipt have been met and are accounted for in accordance with the headings they have been allocated to on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
## **(iv) Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure, it is probable settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
- **(v) Tangible and Intangible Assets**
Tangible and intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The only tangible asset of the charity is computer equipment and this is capitalised at cost and depreciated over three years reflecting the expected useful life. Intangible assets reflect the cost of the development of the new member portal and is being depreciated over three years from the date at which the new portal was launched, which was October 2023
## **2. Donations and legacies**
|Donations and Grants
Gift Aid
Membership Subscriptions
Fundraising
Other|**UnrestrictedRestricted**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
65,402 -**65,402**74,439
36,445 -**36,445**29,796
128,235 -
**###**
###
48,233 -**48,233**32,982
4,514 -**4,514**1,378|
|---|---|
||**282,829 -**
**###**
###|
In 2024 a donation of £1,500 was received that has been classified as Designated Funds. In 2023 a grant of £10,000 was classed as restricted funds.
**9**
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **3. Other trading activities**
||**UnrestrictedRestricted**|**UnrestrictedRestricted**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income from activities**|||||
|Merchandise|1,250|-|**1,250**|1,357|
||**1,250**|**-**|**1,250 **|1,357|
|In 2024 and 2023 all income from activities was unrestricted.|||||
|**Analysis of total resources expended**|||||
||**UnrestrictedRestricted**||**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Cost of generating funds**|||||
|Media & PR|26,560|-|**26,560**|27,815|
||**26,560**|**-**|**26,560**|27,815|
|**Charitable Activities**|||||
|Staf Costs|181,694|-|**181,694**|210,416|
|Member Services - WAY Forward, Helpline|
16,709|-|**16,709**|35,805|
|Website Maintenance|24,337|-|**24,337**|24,635|
|Merchandise|2,119|-|**2,119**|2,863|
|Administration|9,085|-|**9,085**|8,206|
|Bank charges & other fees|5,481|-|**5,481**|5,071|
|Insurance|2,467|-|**2,467**|2,111|
|Independent Examination & Legal Fees|852|-|**852**|780|
|Volunteer Costs|2,100|-|**2,100**|2,014|
|Members Events|8,227|1,770|**9,997**|9,075|
|Project Swan|-|-|**-**|-|
|Depreciation|891|-|**891**|758|
|Amortisation|13,812|-|**13,812**|3,453|
||**267,774**|**1,770**|**269,544**|305,187|
||**294,334**|**1,770**|**296,104**|333,002|
## **4. Analysis of total resources expended**
|**5. Governance**
Accountancy and professional fees|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**852**780|
|---|---|
||**852 **780|
## **6. Trustees' remuneration**
Except below, the trustees received £nil (2023: £nil) worth of emoluments during the period.
Expenses amounting to £743 (2023: £573) were reimbursed in 2024
**10**
## **WAY Widowed and Young**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **7. Staff costs**
|**2024**
**£**
Wages and Salaries
**158,454**
Employer National Insurance
**10,773**
Employer Pension Contributions (Defned Con**3,725**
Temporary Staf
**-**
Other Payroll costs
**8,742**
**TOTAL**
**181,694 **|**2023**
**£**
180,542
15,040
4,318
-
10,516|
|---|---|
||210,416|
By the end of 2024 there were five permanent members of staff (2023: 5)
|**8. Debtors**
Gift Aid
Other|**2024**
**£**
**8,282**
**-**
**8,282 **|**2023**
**£**
5,000
1,113|
|---|---|---|
|||6,113|
## **9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Accruals and deferred income
Other creditors|**2024**
**£**
**24,846**
**-**
**24,846**|**2023**
**£**
34,824
-|
|---|---|---|
|||34,824|
**11**
## **WAY Widowed and Young NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **10 Statement of Funds**
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Statement of Funds**
Unrestricted funds - general
Designated - Memorial Fund
Designated - Gift Membership
Designated - Operating Fund
**Total unrestricted funds**
**RESTRICTED FUNDS**
**Total restricted funds**
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Balance**
**b/fwd**
**£**
4,203
-
650
164,500|**Incoming**
**£**
281,569
1,500
1,010|**Outgoing**
**£**
( 293,199)
( 1,135)|**£**
18,600
( 18,600)
**Transfer**
**s**|**Balance**
**c/fwd**
**£**
**11,173**
**1,500**
**525**
**###**|
||169,353|284,079|(294,334)|-|**###**|
||1,770|-|( 1,770)|-|**-**|
||1,770|-|(1,770)|-|-|
||**171,123**|**284,079**|**(296,104)**|**-**|**###**|
The designated Gift Membership represents funds received to cover membership costs for the recipient of the voucher
The designated Operating Fund represents 50% of our operating costs in 2024, in line with our reserves policy
|Made up of:
**2024**
**2023**
**RestrictedUnrestricted**
**Total**
**RestrictedUnrestricted Total**
**Fixed assets**
- 22,795**22,795**-
36,816
**36,816**
**Current assets**
Stock
- -
**-**-
Debtors and prepayments - 8,282**8,282**-
6,113
**6,113**
Cash at bank and in hand - 152,868
**152,868**1,770
161,248
**###**
- 161,150
**161,150**1,770
167,361
**###**
**Creditors**
-
(24,846)
**(24,846)** -
(34,824)
**(34,824)**
- 159,098
**159,098 **1,770
169,353
**###**
**11 Fixed Assets**
**Tangible**
**Intangible**
**Website**
**TOTAL**
**Cost**
As At 1 Jan 2024
2,273 39,162
**41,435**
Additions
682 -
**682**
Disposals
- -
**-**
**As at 31 December 2024**
**2,955**
**39,162 **
**42,117**
**Depreciation**
As At 1 Jan 2024
1,166 3,453
**4,619**
Disposals
- -
**-**
Depreciation / amortisation
891 # 13,812
**14,703**
Impairment
- -
-
**As at 31 December 2024**
2,057 17,265
**19,322**
**Net Book Value at 31 December 2024**
**898**
**21,897**
**22,795**
**Net Book Value at 31 December 2023**
**1,107 **
**35,709**
**36,816**
**IT**
**equipmen**
**t**|**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|**2023**|**2023**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||-
-|161,150
(24,846)|**161,150**
**(24,846)**|1,770
-|167,361
(34,824)|**###**
**(34,824)**|
||-|159,098|**159,098 **|1,770|169,353|**###**|
||||**Tangible**
2,273
682
-
**IT**
**equipmen**
**t**|**Intangible**
**Website**
39,162
-
-||**TOTAL**
**41,435**
**682**
**-**|
||||**2,955**|**39,162 **||**42,117**|
|||||||**4,619**
**-**
**14,703**
-|
||||2,057|17,265||**19,322**|
||||**898**|**21,897**||**22,795**|
||||**1,107 **|**35,709**||**36,816**|
**12**
WAY Widowed and Young
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTOTHE TRUSTEES OFWAY WIDOWED AND YOUNG
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER2024
I report on the accounts of WA Y Widowed and Young (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on
pages5 to10.
This report is made solely to the trustees of the charity, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011
(the 2011 Act). My examination has been undertaken so that I might State to the trustee5 of the charity those matter5 1 am
required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by
law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the trustees of the charity as a body for my
examination, for this report or the opinions I haveformed.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees are responsiblefor the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this
year under section 144 of the 2011 Act and that an independent examination is needed. The charity's gross income exceeded
£250,000 and l am qualif led to undertake the examination by being a qualif led member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales IICAEW). Having satlsf led myself that the charity is not subject to audit and is eligible f or
independent examination, it 15 my responsibility to-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 14515)(b) of
the 2011 Act., and
to state whether
articular matters have cometo m
attention.
Basis of independent examin*s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination
includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those
records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations f rom you
a5 trustees concerning any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in
an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a'true and fair view and the report is limited
to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matteras have come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements concerning
the format and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (other than any
requirement that the accounts give a'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent
examination),
have not been met,. or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
Catherine MilbankeBSc BFP FCA
35 Accountancy, Chartered Accountants
5-8 Priestgate
Darlington
DL11NL
Date:. 26 April 2025