International
**ANNUAL**
**Official address: Life4Widows International Orchard Close, Ruislip, HA4 7LR Charitable incorporated organisation Charity Registration number 1195552**
**REPORT 2021-22**
40
## **Our Beginnings**
Life4Widows was established in January 2008 as a nonprofit organisation. The first meeting consisted of seven women yearning for a bond and friendship borne out of our common experience, we decided to begin to meet quarterly. We were determined that together we would love, encourage support, and anchor one another and equip ourselves to recover from the loss we had experienced and enter back into society.
## **About Life4Widows International**
Life4Widows International (known as “Life4Widows”) is a support group which focuses on enabling widows to LIVE after the loss of their loved one. No one plans to be a widow, however many of us have found ourselves in the unfamiliar place called “widowhood.” having to deal with many unexpected life issues alone and Life4Widows’ role is to support widows or anyone who has ever been a widow in the best way possible.
## **Our Mission Statement**
We are a charitable organisation comprised of widows and former widows of all ages. We see ourselves as a family of women empowering one another in various innovative ways to springboard our lives back into action after losing a spouse.
2
39
## **Our Philosophy**
Our Christian faith is at the heart of who we are. At Life4Widows, we uplift, encourage, and support one another. However, Life4Widows is no ordinary Widows Support Group. Our approach to widowhood is unique. It’s creative, dynamic, and full of ideas that fulfil and exceed the typical expectations of what a widow’s support group should be.
## **Our Promise**
We are committed that ours would be a different kind of friendship. One that we would always be there for each other, ‘no matter what’ and that we would go the extra mile because ‘every widow matters.
With this positive mind set and attitude, our quarterly gatherings and annual events are now attended by women from all sorts of backgrounds. We create a safe, supportive environment where they can grieve, share their everyday difficulties of living without a spouse, bringing up children alone, emotional issues and many other related challenges.
38
3
## **We Can Deliver**
We provide an opportunity for a deep emotional heart to heart talk (what we call ‘Let’sTalk’) which we handle with great care, sensitivity, and confidentiality.
Special friendships have developed among members, and we continue to impact each other’s daily lives. We invest time in visiting each other, especially new widows to help them feel less isolated and reduce their sense of despondency.
Life4Widows is a support group which focuses on enabling widows to LIVE after the loss of their loved one.
## **Who We Are & What We Do**
We are a UK registered charity comprised of widows aged between 30 – 80 Plus. We are a family of women empowering one another in various innovative ways to springboard our lives back into action after losing a spouse.
We are determined that together we would love, encourage, support, and anchor one another and equip ourselves to recover from the loss we have experienced.
We are a breath of fresh air and a ‘Big’ surprise to all women who attend our meetings for the first time mainly because we provide a safe environment where women can (laugh, cry and speak freely) inhale and exhale without fear of being censored, judged, or criticised.
37
4
## **Real Friends**
We have chosen to always be there for each other, ‘no matter what. Also going the extra mile, for one another.
## **B Each Other U uilding p**
We have learnt that sharing testimonies, celebrating special days and anniversaries with prayer as our foundation, generates strength confidence, and enthusiasm in our members. The encouragement and energy gained from our gatherings, acts as a vehicle to exploring life again. Our different professions (Doctors, Educationalists, Accountants, Lawyers, etc), have enabled us to become an excellent resource pool for each other. This has literally created an informal ‘inhouse advice group’ supporting members and their families in various aspects of life.
36
5
**Chairs Report and Founder** It is an overwhelming joy and a privilege to present this year’s annual report and the first one for **Life4Widows International** . In 2021, Life4Widows consulted with its members about becoming a charity and to register with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The application with our new constitution we can now support widows beyond the shores of the United Kingdom – We’ve gone international albeit starting first in Rwanda in Africa. My hope is as we grow in terms of numbers and experience, we’ll be able to offer more support Rwanda to women who have become bereaved, and therefore work in other countries. For the benefits of those who left school years ago and have forgotten their geography lessons or may not even have taken geography at all, please see outline of Africa for Rwanda. One thing for certain in this group is that we have all (unfortunately) experienced the death of our husband. Our journeys may be at different stages- for some it’s fresh, for others, it could have been years ago but in any instance, it still seems much like yesterday.
35
6
It does not matter if you are just breaking into your thirties having only enjoyed a few years of marriage or you’ve been married for many years the pain can be unbearable – at the time the world seems as though it’s about to end. Those very special birthdays, the restaurant bookings that you used to enjoy going to that will no longer happen, the trips down a particular road, or just having a quiet time in together (without the children) watching a smoochy film (ahhh) can often bring those memories flooding right back. I guess we’ll never forget them, and for some of us, these moments can become overwhelming and challenging. It is times like these that a supportive arm, a phone call, or a visit often helps, and of course let’s not forget that warming embrace!
We may shed a tear or two, but we know that our weeping is just for a night or a season but in the morning, in the new season there will be JOY!
_**“I just needed a hug, that’s all, thank you L4W”.**_
34
7
We won’t always weep….. there are many more days when
we smile and laugh.
We have helped and supported over sixty widows and their families throughout the year. Our desire to meet the impact of death and bereavement has not demised knowing that (Unfortunately) others will join us at some point or another. We will not let death become the ‘victor’. _**LET’S LIVE AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD!**_
## **Address the body at Zumba Classes …………**
8
33
## **My Vision for the Future**
As chair, my vision for the future is to touch and support as many widows in the UK as possible and to reach out to widows in other countries. Wouldn’t it be great if we can become a global charity like Oxfam, UNICEF or even International (Thunderbirds are Go) Rescue?
We are already reaching the broadsheets of magazines as you can see from the extract on the following pages, and cementing a firm foundation working in partnership with **Solace Ministries** in Rwanda.
## **Partnering with Solace Ministry**
32
9
**Partnering with Solace Ministry**
10
31
LV
Tqtd
The woman helping
widows to build back
Ylnka Esslen went from planning a move overseas
to finding bailiffs at her door when hei husband died
suddenly of a heart attack. But today, her expenence as
a widow and single tTYJthei is fuel for hei charity Life4Widow5
TOTALXOME
Ic
tr41V*1
11. frkndihlp.
lurllfd
30
li
12
29
## **Why I do it?**
Lots of Dos but I believe that when there is a burning desire, passion or need to do something, you’re not content or at ease until that desire is fulfilled. I guess the pain that I felt when my husband died (which is probably no different from any other widows’ pain or experience) was so heart wrenching. Notwithstanding, the passion for Life4Widows is best captured in the testimonial below
_**I was practically propelled there by my older sister Barbara who was acquainted with the founder Olivia (aka Yinka).**_
_**She researched, asked a billion questions, and decided that was the place for me as they (my siblings) didn't know what to do with me. I went to a breakfast meeting on the Thames River my very first. I was a bit apprehensive to start with, but I was made to feel so welcome by the group.**_
_**I had the opportunity to share for the first time exactly how lost and bewildered I felt because it felt safe. These ladies did not just sympathise with me they emphasised. For the first time I did not feel strange and unable to articulate what I was going through. I was helped, supported, and never did I feel like I was a bother to anyone.**_
_**I was amazed that this group had everything lawyers, doctors, social workers, money experts! A true one stop shop for guidance and sign posting.**_
_**Over the years I have grown in Life4widows and became a support to other widows. I am cohead of the Care / welfare team that look after groupings of ladies by location.**_
_**Life4widows has been a lifeline for myself and my family and continues to be so. I am proud to be a part of such a giving community of able women and certainly wouldn't have made it to where I am without them!**_
_**God bless our visionary Olivia Essien! Many of us are standing because of her.**_
28
13
In the coming months we look forward to the following:
1. Bi-Annual fund raising and Gala – to raise funds to enable us to do our work in the UK & Rwanda
2. To support more widows to birth their dream business.
3. To run several training courses / workshops on issues such as financial management, business marketing, dietary needs, heath matters, career development etc.
Of course, I am unable to do this all on my own and I am pleased to say that I have a wonderful team that is so helpful in the planning and management of all our events and activities.
**Meet the dedicated and brilliant Executive Planning Team ……**
Labake Audrie Tolu Olivia Yinka J Dayo Grace Susan (aka Yinka)
Despite all that has happened, is happening and the pain we share, I’m looking forward to the coming year. I also pray that our tomorrow will be even better. - Yinka
27
14
## **Building Businesses**
We encourage widows to birth and grow businesses. Example, we share just a few of what can be achieved.
Forget those supermarket plastic bags and be seen with an **EXCESS** bags – T-shit & head tie designed one of our fellow members. The good thing about these bags, they are Excess which cannot be thrown away.
26
15
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Mugs, Mugs Mugs…..
Abimbola author of “My sisters
are not good at Listening”
to get started.
Conferences, Training
and Seminars
Styling Workshop & jewellery
workshop
**----- End of picture text -----**
25
16
**Designers – outfits and jewellery making.**
24
17
## C **onferences, Training and Seminars**
During the last 18 months we ran several seminars An early morning (togetherness) breakfast.
## C **onferences**
Amidst the grief and pain, we must move forward, especially if there are children involved. Some of the activities are family based as we believe the family is strong focal point. Trips included boat ride, visit to stately homes, retreats, get togethers at members’ homes, breakfast meetings and many more etc.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
20/10/2023
Olivia Adeyinka Essien
**----- End of picture text -----**
18
23
## **Financial Accounts**
Please find our Financial Account for the year ending 31[st] December 2022
**----- Start of picture text -----**
20/10/2023
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Banquet Gala Evening**
## **Thanks and Appreciation ……**
**Life4Widdows would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation to EVERYONE who have supported us**
22
19
## **A HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU**
## **Achievement Awards**
We simply like to encourage each other.
20
21