Widow Tree

**Friday evening saw Widow Tree's very first Summer Social at The Six Bells, Thame. 💙**

What a lovely evening it was, filled with conversation, new connections and the comfort of being with people who truly understand.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening so special. Your warmth, kindness and support for one another are what Widow Tree is all about.

A special thank you to **The Six Bells** for the delicious food and for helping make the evening such a welcoming one.

To those who wanted to come but couldn't make it this time, we hope to see you at another event or one of our regular support groups soon.

Our next **Thame support group** is on **Friday 14th August**, and whether you've been before or are thinking of coming for the first time, you'll always receive a warm welcome.

💙 **You are not alone.**

💙 Widow Tree – Benson Support Group 💙

Our next Benson support group is on Thursday 16th July at Benson Care Home.

🕙 10:00am – 11:30am
📍 Benson Care Home

If you've lost your partner, you're warmly invited to join us for a friendly, informal morning of tea, conversation and support. Whether it's your first time or you've been before, you'll be made to feel welcome. There's no pressure to talk – just come along and be yourself.

💙 Open to anyone who has been bereaved of their partner, no matter how long ago.

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may benefit from coming along.

You are not alone.

🌿 Widow Tree – July Update 🌿

July can be a month of sunshine on the outside but mixed emotions on the inside. Holidays, family gatherings and special dates can make the absence of someone we love feel even greater.

If that's you, please remember... you are not alone.

Thank you to everyone who joined us during June, supported us at local events, donated, volunteered or simply shared our message. Every act of kindness helps us continue providing free peer support for widows and widowers across Oxfordshire.

💚 Our July support groups:

📍 Thame – Friday 10th July
The Black Horse (Side Room)

📍 Benson – Thursday 16th July
Benson Care Home

📍 Radley – Monthly support group at
The Bowyer Arms

Whether you've been coming for months or are thinking about attending for the very first time, you'll always receive a warm welcome. There's no pressure to speak—just a safe space with people who truly understand.

☀️ Summer Social – Everyone Welcome!

📅 Friday 24th July
🕕 6:00pm
📍 The Six Bells, Thame (Garden Patio)

This relaxed evening is open to all widows, widowers and anyone who has lost a partner. Whether you've attended one of our groups before, have only come once, or have never been at all, we'd love to see you. Bring a friend if it helps—you'll receive a very warm welcome.

We're also busy behind the scenes developing new resources, working on our next Red Robin book and continuing our journey towards becoming a registered charity so we can support even more bereaved families.

Thank you for being part of Widow Tree.

Together, we're proving that no one has to face grief alone. ❤️

💙 Widow Tree Support Group – Radley 💙

Have you lost your husband, wife or partner?

Widow Tree offers a friendly, informal peer support group where you can meet others who truly understand life after loss.

📅 This Thursday
🕛 12:00pm – 1:30pm
📍 The Bowyer Arms, Radley

Whether your bereavement is recent or many years ago, you’ll receive a warm welcome. There is no pressure to talk – you can simply come along for a cuppa, listen, or share if and when you’re ready.

If you’re feeling anxious about attending for the first time, please send us a message beforehand. We know how daunting that first visit can be, and we’re happy to chat.

Please feel free to share this post – you never know who might need to see it today.

💙 Widow Tree – You are not alone.

We’re sorry if you were planning to come and see us today, but due to the high temperatures we won’t be attending the Watlington Party in the Park. ☀️

The wellbeing of our volunteers comes first, and we hope everyone stays safe and keeps cool.

If you need any support, would like to chat, or would like one of our Widow Tree badges, please do get in touch – we’re still here for you. 💙

Take care, stay hydrated, and we hope to see you all soon

Today is International Widows Day, and I wanted to share its history. 🌻

Established in 2005 by the Loomba Foundation, the date was chosen because it's the date Lord Loomba's own mother was widowed back in 1954 in Punjab. After years of advocating to highlight the injustice and poverty so many widows face around the world, the United Nations officially adopted 23rd June as International Widows Day in 2010.

There are an estimated 258 million widows globally. In many countries, losing a husband still means losing rights, status, financial security, and social standing. All simply because of his death. This day exists to make that injustice visible and to push for change for widows across the world.

But today is also about something closer to home. 💛

It's about every widow reading this. The ones rebuilding a life that looks nothing like the one they planned. The ones parenting alone, working alone, making every decision alone. The ones who have shown a kind of quiet courage that rarely gets acknowledged.

You are seen. You matter. And whatever stage of this journey you're on, remember that you are not alone in it. 🌻 Read more here: https://www.karensutton.co.uk/blog/Reframing%20Widowhood%20this%20International%20Widow's%20Day

If today brings anything up for you, know that the Re-Member Membership is a space built for exactly this: karensutton.co.uk/the-widow-membership or link in bio.

🌳 Come and Say Hello to Widow Tree! 🌳

We’ll be at Watlington Party in the Park at The Paddocks this Saturday from 2pm–4pm

Pop by our stall to:
�💙 Find out more about Widow Tree and the support we offer
�📚 Pick up a copy of our Red Robin children’s bereavement books
�🎖️ Purchase one of our brand-new Widow Tree badges
�🌱 Take home some bird food or flower seeds
�☕ Have a chat and learn about our community

Can’t make it? You can find our Red Robin books here:�📖 The Red Robin
https://amzn.eu/d/025HPpBP
�📖 The Red Robin and the Memory Tree –
https://amzn.eu/d/08rE97BI

📍 The Paddocks, Watlington�🕑 Saturday, 2pm–4pm

We look forward to meeting you!

Widow Tree – You Are Not Alone 💙