WIDOW
Women Independence & Orphans Welfare
Who we are
Women Independence & Orphans Welfare (WIDOW) is a UK registered charity that pairs practical support with strong safeguarding and governance, so every gift creates real, trackable change for families led by widows and for every orphaned child in our communities.
We work in the UK and in remote regions of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh — places where widows and orphans face severe poverty far from any safety net.
Our core beliefs
Our organisation truly believes that by working together through practical, accountable programmes, we create lasting change.
Community schools, literacy programmes, and accredited vocational training that open doors to sustainable, self-generated incomes — giving children and women a future they choose.
Mobile clinics, medical referrals, maternal and child health screenings, and community health education in remote and underserved regions where care is simply not available.
Seed grants, business toolkits, and expert mentoring to launch micro-enterprises — enabling widows to generate independent income, rebuild confidence, and reclaim their dignity.
The need is real
And every donation moves us closer to reaching them all.
Children orphaned globally every single day
Orphaned and abandoned children worldwide
Widows living in poverty in the developing world
Of every WIDOW donation independently monitored
Make a difference
Provides a week of nutritious meals for one orphaned child, or covers the cost of a week of basic healthcare for a widow and her family.
Funds one month of vocational skills training for a widow, helping her take the first steps toward an independent livelihood for herself and her children.
Covers a full term of education for two orphaned children, including all learning materials, and contributes to the running costs of a model orphanage facility.
What we deliver
Every WIDOW programme is designed not merely to provide relief, but to achieve lasting, self-sustaining transformation.
Schools, literacy, vocational training across 5 countries.
Mobile clinics, maternal & child health services.
Seed grants, toolkits, micro-enterprise mentoring.
Model orphanages, safe housing, child protection.
Safeguarding, rights protection, policy change.
Stories of change
WIDOW gave me the training I needed to start my own small tailoring business. For the first time in three years, I am able to feed my four children without asking for help from anyone.
The school WIDOW built in our village is the first proper classroom my children have ever sat in. My son now wants to be a doctor. That hope is the greatest gift anyone has ever given us.
Before WIDOW I had nothing — no income, no voice, no future. Their vocational programme and the small grant helped me open a food stall. I now employ two other widows from my community.
Quarterly impact updates with outcomes, photos, and stories. Annual audit summary provided to all donors on request.
Zero tolerance for exploitation. Strict safeguarding, GDPR compliance, Anti-Fraud and AML policies across all operations.
We work through vetted, trusted community organisations in each region to scale genuine impact at the grassroots level.
Our memberships & partners
Subscribe to receive quarterly impact updates, news from our programmes, and information about upcoming events and campaigns.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Every gift — however large or small — creates real, trackable change in the life of a widow or an orphaned child.
Registered Charity No. 1210983 · England and Wales · NCVO Member
Women Independence & Orphans Welfare (WIDOW) is a UK registered charity committed to turning the most vulnerable circumstances into a foundation for independence, dignity, and hope.
Who we are
Women Independence & Orphans Welfare (WIDOW) is an internationally focused humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to the socio-economic development and protection of orphaned children and widowed women in the most remote and underserved communities across five countries.
We are not simply a charity. We are a structured, professionally governed development organisation — working transparently, strategically, and with measurable impact at the grassroots level where the need is greatest and the reach of conventional aid is often weakest.
WIDOW is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates in full compliance with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. We hold NCVO and SIDCN membership, and enforce strict safeguarding, Anti-Fraud/AML, GDPR, and conflict-of-interest policies across all our partners and operations.
A just and compassionate world where widows and orphaned children live free from poverty, with access to education, opportunity, and dignity.
To relieve poverty among widows and orphaned children through education, skills development, and community-led solutions via ethical partnerships.
UK, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh — remote regions where widows and orphans face severe poverty and little support.
Through trusted local partners with funding, oversight, and safeguarding to deliver sustainable support for widows and orphans.
Our journey
WIDOW was founded by a group of community leaders who witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of widowhood and orphanhood in South Asian communities, both in the UK and abroad.
WIDOW launched its inaugural education programme in rural Pakistan, establishing partnerships with two local NGOs and enrolling the first cohort of orphaned children into structured learning.
Building on the success of the Pakistan programme, WIDOW extended its operations to three additional countries, applying the same rigorous model of evaluation, partnership, and monitoring.
Recognising the need closer to home, WIDOW established a dedicated UK support programme for widowed women, providing financial guidance, skills training, and community connections.
WIDOW is governed by a Board of Trustees. We enforce strict Safeguarding, Anti-Fraud/AML, Data Protection (GDPR) and Conflict-of-Interest policies across all partners without exception.
Quarterly reports with outcomes, photos, and stories. Annual audit summary. Optional site visits with partners.
Our people
Leads the Board of Trustees with strategic oversight, ensuring WIDOW meets its charitable objectives and governance obligations.
Oversees all financial operations, audit processes, and compliance with Charity Commission reporting requirements.
Manages relationships with local NGO partners across all five countries and oversees programme monitoring and evaluation.
Ensures all programmes and partnerships meet the highest standards of safeguarding, GDPR, and beneficiary protection.
Your support directly funds education, healthcare, livelihoods, and protection for the world's most vulnerable.
Every WIDOW programme is designed not merely to provide relief, but to achieve lasting, self-sustaining transformation for widows and orphaned children across five countries.
What we deliver
Transparent, independently verified data on the scale of need and the measurable difference WIDOW is making across five countries.
Children orphaned globally every single day
Orphaned & abandoned children worldwide
Widows living in poverty globally
Independently monitored fund deployment
How every donation is deployed across WIDOW's programme areas.
Resource and attention weighting across WIDOW's five intervention areas.
Geographical reach
Widow support, skills training, financial guidance and community building for South Asian widows in Birmingham and across the UK.
Education, healthcare, and livelihood programmes in rural Punjab and Sindh — among the areas with the highest rates of child orphaning and widow poverty.
Vocational training and micro-enterprise support for widows in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, alongside orphan welfare programmes in partnership with local NGOs.
Post-conflict recovery support, education, and healthcare for orphaned children and widows in Northern Sri Lanka, working through vetted local partners.
Flood-affected and climate-displaced communities in rural Bangladesh, where orphaning and widowhood rates are disproportionately high and institutional support is absent.
A comprehensive professional profile of Women Independence & Orphans Welfare (WIDOW) — Registered Charity No. 1210983.
Organisation at a glance
To relieve poverty among widows and orphaned children by supporting education, skills development, and community-led solutions — through ethical partnerships, rigorous safeguarding, and independently monitored fund governance — enabling every beneficiary to learn, earn, and thrive.
How each WIDOW programme translates donor contributions into verified real-world outcomes for beneficiaries.
How your contribution flows from WIDOW to the communities that need it most, with full independent oversight at every stage.
Make your gift
Choose an amount
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Other ways to give
Set up a regular monthly donation and provide WIDOW with the sustained, reliable income needed to plan and deliver long-term programmes. Cancel anytime.
Partner with WIDOW through your CSR programme — employee giving schemes, payroll giving, matched donations, or sponsoring a specific project or country programme.
Leave a lasting gift to WIDOW in your Will and ensure that your values live on, transforming the lives of future generations of widows and orphaned children for years to come.
Run a marathon, host a bake sale, cycle a challenge — whatever you love doing. We'll support you with a fundraising pack and everything you need.
For larger donations, bank transfer to WIDOW directly. Please for bank details and reference information. All transfers are acknowledged and receipted.
If you are a UK taxpayer, WIDOW can reclaim 25p from HMRC for every £1 you donate — at absolutely no extra cost to you. A £50 donation becomes £62.50 for WIDOW. Simply tick the Gift Aid box when donating.
The latest news, impact stories, and updates from WIDOW's programmes across the UK, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
WIDOW's newest school in rural Punjab has welcomed its first cohort of 120 students, ranging from ages 5 to 14. Many are attending formal education for the very first time.
Read more →Nadia lost her husband three years ago. Today, thanks to WIDOW's livelihood programme, she runs a tailoring business and employs two other women from her community.
Read more →WIDOW's mobile healthcare unit completed its third deployment in flood-affected Bangladesh, reaching 340 patients including 80 children under five who received vaccinations.
Read more →WIDOW has joined a 14-organisation international coalition advocating for the legal rights of widows and the elimination of harmful practices that deepen poverty and social exclusion.
Read more →WIDOW's flagship orphanage in Colombo, Sri Lanka has reached a significant milestone — it is now generating 60% of its own operating income through local business partnerships and community contributions.
Read more →Our 2024 Annual Impact Report is now available, detailing programme outcomes, financial accounts, and stories of change from across all five countries of operation.
Download report →Join us in person or online. Our events raise vital funds, build community, and celebrate the incredible resilience of the people we support.
Coming up
Join us for our flagship fundraising gala at a prestigious Birmingham venue. An evening of inspiring stories, live entertainment, and the chance to make a real difference. All proceeds fund our five programme areas.
Lace up your running shoes and join our community 5K charity run through Cannon Hill Park. Suitable for all fitness levels. Every participant raises vital funds for orphaned children and widows.
Join WIDOW's Programme Director for a live webinar presenting first-hand findings from our 2025 field visit to Pakistan. See real impact, real stories, and ask your questions live.
Our annual community dinner brings together supporters, beneficiaries, and community leaders to share food, stories, and a common commitment to supporting those in greatest need.
Already happened
Birmingham · Raised over £18,000 for widow and orphan programmes across all five countries.
Online · Educational webinar attended by 240+ donors and supporters from across the UK.
Birmingham · Community event that raised £4,200 and connected 150+ local donors with WIDOW's work.
Whether you have a question, want to volunteer, partner with us, or simply find out more — our team is here to help.
Send a message
Our details
443–465 Coventry Road
Small Heath, Birmingham
B10 0TJ, United Kingdom
General: info@widowcharity.co.uk
Donations: donate@widowcharity.co.uk
England & Wales
Charity No. 1210983
WIDOW welcomes volunteers with skills in fundraising, communications, programme support, finance, legal, and more. Fill in the form above selecting "Volunteer Enquiry" and we'll be in touch.
Everything you need to know about WIDOW, our programmes, donating, and how we put your generosity to work.
WIDOW stands for Women Independence and Orphans Welfare. We are a UK registered charity (No. 1210983) dedicated to the socio-economic development and protection of orphaned children and widowed women in remote and underserved communities across the UK, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
WIDOW is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under registration number 1210983. Our registered office is at 443–465 Coventry Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B10 0TJ. We are also members of NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) and SIDCN.
WIDOW delivers programmes in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. We work in remote and rural communities in each country where the rates of orphaning and widow poverty are highest and institutional support is most limited.
WIDOW is governed by a Board of Trustees who hold legal and fiduciary responsibility for the charity. The Board oversees all strategic decisions, financial management, and compliance with Charity Commission requirements. WIDOW enforces strict safeguarding, Anti-Fraud/AML, GDPR, and conflict-of-interest policies across all operations.
Every project funded by WIDOW undergoes a rigorous Expression of Interest (EOI) evaluation process conducted by an experienced independent consultancy. Once funded, all projects are continuously monitored through independent sources, and quarterly impact reports are produced for our donors. We also offer optional site visits for major donors.
Approximately 35% of donations fund orphan programmes (housing, education, healthcare), 30% fund widow livelihood and support programmes, 25% fund education and training across all beneficiary groups, and 10% covers administration. Every deployment is independently audited and reported quarterly to donors.
Yes! If you are a UK taxpayer, WIDOW can claim an additional 25p from HMRC for every £1 you donate through Gift Aid — at absolutely no extra cost to you. Simply confirm your taxpayer status when donating and complete the Gift Aid declaration. A £50 donation becomes £62.50 for WIDOW at no additional cost to you.
Absolutely. Monthly giving is one of the most valuable ways to support WIDOW because it provides the reliable, sustained income we need to plan and deliver long-term programmes. You can set up a monthly donation on our donate page and cancel at any time — no commitment required.
Yes. All donations are acknowledged by email with a formal receipt for your records. If you require a specific receipt format for tax purposes or corporate reporting, please contact us at donate@widowcharity.co.uk and we will be happy to provide this.
WIDOW sends quarterly impact updates to all donors who provide an email address. These reports include real outcomes, photographs, and stories from beneficiaries in our programmes. We also publish an Annual Impact Report each year. Major donors are offered optional site visits to see programmes in action.
Yes — WIDOW welcomes corporate partnerships through CSR programmes, matched employee giving, payroll giving, project sponsorship, and event sponsorship. Please contact us at info@widowcharity.co.uk or visit our Donate page for more information on corporate giving options.
Our team is here to help. Send us a message and we'll get back to you within one business day.