Community & Connection

Dear all,

Apologies but I need to vent, because after 6 years I've come to the end of the line...

I'm 53 years old and based near Bournemouth. I lost my wife Laura to Cancer in 2020 when she was just 45. One week after the funeral the UK went into the first lockdown, a few months later I lost my job due to the pandemic. And then a short time after that I had to move out of our marital home.

As time has progressed over the years my friends and family have stopped calling. I've made over 2300 job applications in six years but am still out of work. My CV has been professionally overhauled 4 times and even made AI compliant... but still no employment!

The days are long, the night's longer. And I'm lonely. SO SO lonely. I've tried dating apps and did see someone for…

One of the most powerful parts of The Widowed Collective is the way you show up for one another. We know that many of you are looking for ways to connect locally or virtually over shared interests, and we are so excited to announce a new feature that makes this easier than ever.

You can now create and host your own events directly through this community forum!

Whether it’s a casual coffee meetup in your local town, a walk in the park, or a themed virtual chat, you now have the tools to bring people together.

How to Create Your Event:

Ready to gather the collective? It’s simple to get started:

1. Head to the Events Page: Find and click the 'Events' tab at the top of this page

Hi on the 20th feb we are hoping for a meet up at Plum Tree Farm at 2pm Hallam way Blackpool fy4 5nz

Any meetings in Scotland happening? Hard to find like minded people 🙂

There is something about meeting a bunch of widowed together as another widowed.  A widowed not knowing anyone in the room.  There is an easiness.  An ease.  There is time to ease in and relax. It is something I struggle to understand.  But like so much these past two years, I sense it, feel it, know it. This is not a best-buds for life, this is not lifelong friends stuff. Just (maybe) an unspoken recognition.  Recognition of another having walked through the fire.

I went along to my first breakfast with approx 50-60 other widowed. Circular tables of 10-12 allowing a nice intimacy.  Sticky address labels with names felt-tipped on and stuck to chests. The age range is retirement age upwards. I was one of the younger ones (unless that is how we all think). And there were men! Widowers! Maybe ten or so of us chaps. To the left…