The last Widows Connect retreat was described as calming, comforting, and more uplifting than anyone imagined, a space where women felt truly seen and supported in their grief. Making heartfelt connections with others who just get it brought unexpected strength, hope, and healing.
Sign up to the waitlist for our 2026 retreat, and we will let you know, as soon as we have confirmed the date.
A Half-day of connection, community, and comfort for widows and surviving partners
Wherever you are in your journey.
Wherever you are in the world.
Whatever your age.
If you are grieving the loss of a life partner, then this is for YOU!
Karen Sutton and Orla Blackburn are bringing to you the opportunity to take time for YOU and immerse yourself in a nurturing environment essential to your healing journey.
Enjoy the day, from the comfort of your own home, giving you the freedom to attend a variety of sessions in a way that works for you.Dates for the Widows Connect 2026 TBC
What can you expect…
Half-day event where you will feel seen, heard and understood reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Access to FaceBook group [opening 1 week prior and remaining 30 days post-event], because the power of community is transformative.
Replays to all event sessions for 30 days to continue helping you navigate the turbulent waters of grief.
Gentle mindful healing Yoga to help soften and release grief.
Self-exploration meditation to give you physical and mental space.
Active session with a grief coach where you will have space to talk, share and listen to others.
New friends, reflective worksheets, tools and mindset shifts to gain a sense of calm and help you on your journey.
Dedicated support from Karen and Orla which will have you feeling nourished, inside and out!
“The Widows Connect was an amazing day with so many positive things and tools to help to take away. Have never tried Yoga and found Yoga Nidra a revelation. Thank you both so much for creating this uplifting experience.”
- Maria Weaver
“Thank you for the day, it was excellent, so many tools to navigate our journey. Wonderful to see such a strong community.
Orla was excellent, powerful meditations and relaxing yoga.
The Widows Connect was an inspiring day. Lots of good, realistic ideas. The time flew by, thank you Karen and Orla.”
- Kate Davis
“Karen has changed my life!! She is so kind and nurturing! This is exactly what I needed! She's teaching me to find myself and live a joyful life with my grief! I wish I'd found her sooner!”
- Shannon
“Eighteen months after losing my husband, I felt I had to stop talk therapy. My therapist was willing to talk about whatever was on my agenda. I just didn't know what my agenda was. I simply wanted the pain to stop. Karen came to each session with her own agenda and it was spot on. Every topic that Karen raised -- resilience, decision making, guilt -- was something that I desperately needed to talk about and to understand. She mentors with compassion, and experience. Her goal is simple: to help us not simply survive the tragedy we faced in losing our life partner, but to thrive.”
- Michelle Boardman
“Thank you for an amazing day full of learning, fellowship, and Orla's amazing yoga nidra meditation and relaxation. I woke up today feeling stronger and more capable of coping thanks to all of the tools I now have. Well done Karen and Orla!”
- Kathy Kelly Griffin
“Thank you Karen Sutton, The Widow Coach, and Orla for such an amazing day. I have never done yoga before and found it relaxing which I haven’t felt for a long time. Thank you also for all the tools, it was a special day, thank you for creating it for us all xxx”
- Christine
Grief is heavy! It feels like walking through marshland with a ten-stone bag on your back.Let us help lighten the load for you so you can take steps forward feeling a little lighter and brighter.
Ultimately you will have more HOPE in your heart and a greater belief within yourself that you can do this.
Together we are stronger so let's all stand together and create something really special helping us all find our way forward towards a more peaceful future.
Meet your facilitators
Karen Sutton - the UK's first Widow Coach
In 2016, my world changed forever when my husband, Simon, died, leaving me a widow with two young children. I was thrown into a life I hadn’t planned for, one filled with overwhelming grief, confusion, and loneliness.
Through my own healing journey, I discovered a deep calling to support others who were walking a similar path. I went on to become the UK’s first Widow Coach, and it’s now my passion and purpose to help widows navigate their grief in a more compassionate and empowering way.
I support others through online support groups, in-person events, and retreats, as well as hosting The Widow Podcast, the UK’s first podcast created specifically for widows and surviving partners.
I believe it’s not about “moving on” from grief, it’s about learning how to hold space for it all: the pain, the love, the growth, and the hope. My work is about helping you carry your grief more gently, find greater peace in your heart, and begin to create a life you can love again, right alongside your loss.
Orla Blackburn, Holistic Widow Guide
After losing my partner, I did what most people do when life breaks apart, I tried to hold it together. Grief was messy, confusing, and nothing anyone said seemed to help. Yoga didn’t fix me, but it gave me something better: a way to come home to myself. I learned that our bodies hold so much of what we’ve been through, and that healing often starts there. Now, I help other widows reconnect with their bodies, rebuild trust in themselves, and move forward in a way that feels real. You don’t need to be “over it.” You just need a way to keep going that doesn’t leave you behind.
© 2024 Karen Sutton - The Widow Coach