For many of us this is the first chance of a proper Christmas in years, after a pandemic which kept us apart.
The chance to take stock, relax, enjoy all the things we look forward to doing will be especially welcome this year, after months of challenges.
The year 2022 will be remembered for the cost of living crisis that put a real strain on most of us, hitting the vulnerable among us the hardest. That crisis means that some of us will not be able to enjoy the Christmas we might like to.
Today, as we celebrate this special time and its message of hope and peace, our thoughts turn to them, and all those affected by poverty, isolation, war and ill health. And we celebrate those who dedicate their time to helping others, including all those who are working today to keep essential services going.
It’s safe to say it’s been another extraordinary year.
We lost the Queen, her long life of service commemorated with remarkable scenes of mourning, so it won’t be her message we hear this Christmas, but that of her son, King Charles.
It’s a time of new beginnings, and new beginnings bring hope in the face of adversity.
Closer to home, we reported on the Manchester Arena Inquiry and saw the immense courage of the families in the face of the unthinkable. The courage of people like Figen Murray, who lost her son Martyn and who has relentlessly campaigned to make venues safer. She’s finally securing government support to make Martyn’s Law a reality.
This year we revealed the death of Awaab Ishak, the little boy who died after being exposed to damp and mould at his home. We’re campaigning to make sure those who run social housing take responsibility for the condition of the homes they run, a change that has won the support of Michael Gove.
The hope, of both campaigns, is that from the darkness something positive will spring - something lasting that will save other lives.
We know the next few months may not be easy but we are a resilient city. We know from the pandemic that times of great struggle often bring out the best in people with stories of great altruism, hope and kindness.
That’s why the Manchester Evening News supports Humans MCR, a small charity with a mighty heart. They want to tackle hunger in Greater Manchester.
We love this charity because they treat every client with the dignity and respect we all deserve. They deliver food in unmarked vans to maintain privacy, and work to help people to move out of poverty.
Whatever happens in the next few months, the Manchester Evening News will be there to tell the story and fight for our communities.
Covering a patch of more than three million people, from so many different walks of life, means not everyone will like everything we do all the time.
But our journalists could not be more committed to the people of Greater Manchester. We love Greater Manchester like you do.
Today, we’ve filled our home page with stories of hope and useful information. However you’re spending the festive season, we hope you enjoy it and we’re here for you.
We at the Manchester Evening News would like to wish our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2023.
