This week we celebrate the unique way we focus on local life as part of Holding Our Community Together, our campaign to raise awareness launched last week.

This focuses on the impact made by the Free Press, as your local newspaper, every week.

The lives of people living locally are central to our news, with their highs and lows featured on our pages and on our website, just as we have reported on local events throughout our history.

Even when our community was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and accompanying lockdowns, we have stayed true to our aim of reporting on what matters to our community.

We hold a unique place in local life by reporting on the everyday stories which social media and other digital news providers do not document.

Continuing our approach, we feature the clubs, groups, teams and individuals who combine to make our community.

This includes local youth groups, junior sports teams, volunteers, civic organisations and community figureheads like our mayors.

Nobody, we believe, understands our community better, so we continue to feature the community work of our public services, the police, fire service, NHS and teaching staff, as well as all those who work for our local authorities to make a difference to our district.

Recently, we have brought you news such as:

* 1st Watchet Scout Group’s overnight camping trip to Flatholm;

* Beach clean plans by the Plastic Free Communities of Porlock, Minehead, Watchet and Exmoor;

* A police raid on a cannabis factory in Alcombe;

* West Somerset Railway chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt’s gratitude to volunteers and the railway’s plans for Christmas;

We see it as our responsibility to bring you the human-interest stories which may not make the headlines outside our town or region but mean a great deal to the people living here.

In recent times we reported on:

* Watchet-based charity Elliot’s Touch being supported by the town’s under tens football team;

* Minehead TMA’s decision to join forces with other local groups concerned about climate change;

* Entertainment ranging from art exhibitions to apple-tasting days in Carhampton Community Orchard;

* And, of course, major events like Watchet Music Festival, Minehead Fun Day, Porlock’s pop-ups, Dunster Country Fair, Williton Fete and the Macmillan Fete in Bicknoller.

Serving this area since July 1860, we believe nobody understands our community and shines a light on everyday life like us.

As part of the community, we hold a unique place in being able document your lives, giving encouragement to those who give back and a voice to those who need help.

While the printed newspaper is integral to our service, we can use our websites and other digital platforms to reach many more people, driving interest in the life in our community.

With our social media reach we are also able to engage with people far and wide about the work of people in our area.

The technology may change but our purpose remains the same. We want to celebrate the best of local life.

We hope you will continue to send in all the important news for our community to appear in your trusted weekly newspaper or on our website, as we play our part in the recovery from the pandemic.

Whether it is the latest fundraiser event for a good cause, a group of volunteers who have rolled their sleeves up to help or friends who want to place a memorial for a loved one now gone, we will continue to share your news.

Thank you for continuing to share your news through the West Somerset Free Press, holding our community together.

Mark Pritchett, Editor