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 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 are privileged to 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 of being the news brand of record, 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 like your trusted local news brand, 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 region.

Recently, we have brought you news such as Scout Leader Richard Newton. The experienced walker had the shock of his life when he fell from a tor, breaking his leg in two places and had to be airlifted off the moors by the Air Ambulance.

Richard was reunited with his beloved Dartmoor by going on a hike to raise money for the air ambulance with 10 of his Fourth Teignmouth Cubs.

Or how about inspirational toddler Elijah Holt (top right), from Kingsteignton.

Elijah, who was born with Down Syndrome, only took possession of his new walking frame a couple of weeks before taking a mammoth 21 steps on World Down Syndrome Day to raise money for charity Living Down South.

With the help of police advocate and Newton Abbot mayor, Cllr Mike Joyce, local policing issues are raised in his regular column in the paper with issues such as speeding and highlighting the work of the Special Police Officers who really make a difference in our communities.

Only last week Cllr Joyce was featured making presentations to the youth arm of the law, the Police Cadets, who have also helped our community in a number of ways.

l You can’t keep a good mayor down and Teignmouth’s mayor, Cllr Peter Williams, has bounced back from his second bout of Covid to play such an active part in his community from painting gratified buildings to encouraging and opening new businesses.

l Dawlish mayor, Cllr Val Mawhood, recently led the Day of Thanks to NHS and volunteer workers in the town. She was also all over town for the Great Big Green Week of events.

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.

Hardly a week goes by without us able to report on a moving story of family members carrying out amazing tributes to relatives or fundraisers to help a friend or relative in need.

We recently reported on a touching tribute by two Teignbridge people who lost their fathers to Covid-19 – each took on a challenge to raise money in their memory.

NHS worker Liam Meyer, from Newton Abbot, undertook a 2,000-mile motorcycle trip to raise money for charity Movember in memory of his Dad, David.

Highweek teacher Paige Bassett took part in September’s Plymouth half- marathon in memory of her dad ‘Fudge’ Bassett. Her fundraising effort will go towards the Winston’s Wish charity.

Serving this area since 1863, 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 our Mid-Devon Advertiser, Dawlish Gazette and Teignmouth Post titles, holding our community together.

Nick Knight

editor