This week the West Somerset Free Press is launching Holding Our Community Together, our campaign to raise awareness about the impact made by your local newspaper every week.

The last 18 months have disrupted everyday life in ways few of us could have imagined but we remain proud about the positive difference our brand has made during the pandemic and successive lockdowns.

Just as we have done for generations, we have reported on life in our area through the bad times and the good. With people reading our website and following our title and its staff on social media, we are reaching more people than ever before.

No-one understands our community like your trusted local newspaper, so we wanted to shout about the difference we make.

We take pride in the reach, audience engagement and editorial coverage we deliver and the impact we make each week in the area we serve.

During the pandemic, we have covered how our local communities have responded to the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis. Having published news in this area since 1860 we can confidently say no-one understands our community, their strengths and challenges, like us.

As well as holding deep local knowledge, we occupy an unrivalled position celebrating the achievements of our people and holding to account those in authority when questions need to be raised for the public interest.

We can point to the unique ways we have highlighted local issues great and small in recent weeks, including plans for a £7 million supermarket in Williton, the delay to opening the East Quay project in Watchet, safety fears on the A39 Minehead-Porlock road and the continued closure of the Seaward Way crossing in Minehead.

But we are not here just to report on the problems we have faced. Our brand is built on reporting stories about local people, whether it is the everyday milestones in their lives or their extraordinary achievements.

The good news stories we have enjoyed sharing with you recently include the success of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge, the opening of the £1.3 million community centre in Minehead, the planned new three-screen cinema in Minehead and Winsford pensioner Brenda Staples’ organ marathon for her village church.

The world has changed and continues to change, yet we are proud of the unique place we hold in local life.

We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to sharing all the important news for our community, both in your trusted weekly newspaper and on our website, as we rebuild from the shock of the pandemic.

Most of all, we will value the unique place we hold in the community, reporting on local life as a trusted voice for you. Thank you for supporting us as we carry on, holding our community together.