We're #ThereWithYou but now your YEP needs your support too - Laura Collins, YEP Editor

Taking up the editorship of the Yorkshire Evening Post has been one of the proudest moments of my career.

It’s a title that I am proud to call myself the custodian of with a dedicated team who work tirelessly around the clock to deliver the news to our valued readers across the city - online and in print.

But the tenacity of our team has been truly tested over the last week during this unprecedented time.

Following the latest Government advice urging people to stay at home our reporting team are working from their kitchen tables and spare bedrooms to make sure that you, our readers, have all the very latest news as Covid-19 sweeps across the country.

Despite this over the last few days we have been accused on social media channels of scare mongering when all our team have done is simply reported the latest statistics and guidance to be issued to the country from our Prime Minister.

We’re also working hard to report on those who are doing wonderful things at this time of uncertainty to help others.

They are the people who show day-in-day-out just why Leeds is such a special place.

We recently launched our #actsofkindness campaign to share the stories of those who are simply trying to put a smile on the faces of others - and we need you to share these with us.

Many of those which make up the very fabric of our thriving high streets have been forced to temporarily close their doors and look at ways to diversify during this time.

Last week we launched our #supportlocal campaign to shine a spotlight on what is being done to support our local business community.

But those closures mean that companies are having to cut their cloth accordingly in line with the financial challenges they are facing.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

We’re working incredibly hard behind the scenes to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

One message from a reader over the weekend speaks volumes: “To manage to still put the paper together is quite an achievement. We do like to keep up with local news.”

Thank you does not reflect just how much this means to the team and I - we appreciate the support of each and every one of you.

We are right #ThereWithYou every step of the way - but we need you too.