The Liverpool ECHO has a proud history of helping and championing people in our communities.
We're living through uncertain times, which is why journalism has never been more important in highlighting injustices, holding authorities to account and giving people a voice.
Our reporters write hundreds of stories each week from our newsroom in Liverpool city centre - but the stories that stay with us are often the ones where we've helped people or made a difference in someone's life, however big or small that may be.
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This week is Journalism Matters Week - a campaign aimed at highlighting the vital importance of trusted reporting. To mark the occasion, we've taken a look back at six times the ECHO has made a difference to lives in Merseyside.
Single dad and kids living on takeaways as dirty water runs into kitchen
When Tony Mckenzie spoke to the ECHO in May this year, his family were living on takeaways due to the amount of dirty water pouring into their kitchen.
The single dad-of-five told of the shocking conditions he and four of his daughters, aged between four and 23, had endured for the last 15 months at their home in Everton. The house is the responsibility of social housing provider Torus, who Mr Mckenzie said he has contacted countless times over the issues, which had left him unable to cook in his own home.
It all started back in February last year when water started leaking from the family's bathroom upstairs into their kitchen - and Mr Mckenzie, 47, said the leak had got so bad that water was pouring directly onto his oven. After being contacted by the ECHO, Torus sent workers to Mr Mckenzie's home that day to "discuss the situation" and "deal with the immediate priority of stopping the leak in the bathroom".
In a statement sent to the ECHO, Torus said: "We sincerely apologise to the customer; on this occasion, standards have fallen lower than what we expect at Torus. On Wednesday, our Assets Team visited the customer to discuss the situation, whilst our plumber attended to deal with the immediate priority of stopping the leak in the bathroom.
"The customer’s Neighbourhood Officer also has visited to provide additional support if needed and to be a single point of contact. Our team have also been out on site to investigate a permanent solution, carrying out a survey of works needed and are working with the customer to agree a resolution.
"We can assure the customer that action will be taken quickly to resolve and put any damage right."
How the ECHO helped a 75-year-old man meet his sister for the first time
A German man met his Scouse sister for the first time after the ECHO stepped in to help.
For decades, Raimund Schmalbeins, 75, wondered who his real dad was after his nan gave him photos and love letters sent to his mum from Liverpool by World War Two veteran Jim Miller. Raimun's mum died in 1980 having spent the rest of her life with a man who Raimund grew up knowing as his father.
Raimund only found out abut his biological father after reading about him in the old letters. He made several trips to Liverpool since finding the letters in 1986 on a mission to find his long-lost family, but he had no luck.
In a final attempt to find them, Raimund spoke to the ECHO, who published an article with photos of Jim Miller who died never knowing he had a German son. On December 20 last year, a man bought a copy of the ECHO and after flipping through it he paused on a photo of Jim Miller, thinking 'that's my great-great-grandad!'.
Word soon passed to the man's great-grandmother Evelyn, now in her 80s, who was one of Jim's two daughters and grew up in a terraced house on Mill Street, Dingle. After speaking over Zoom, Raimund and his family travelled over to Liverpool to meet his newfound sister Evelyn for the first time in April this year.
Raimund's neighbour Ralf, who helped him to search for his family, said: "Raimund is feeling very, very happy about all that has happened. We didn't dream that this would come true, that he would meet and have new family.
"Thank you so much to the Liverpool ECHO for helping us out with this amazing story. We are also happy to meet family and the Millers will also come to Germany to Duisburg in the German 'steel belt'."
Council removes huge bonfire after concerns from young mum
An enormous bonfire that was being built close to the home of a young mum and her son was removed after the ECHO highlighted their concerns.
On October 20, the ECHO reported on concerns from Gold Onwuka after a huge pile of timber, furniture and other waste appeared on land close to her home in Rickman Street, Kirkdale. Gold was deeply concerned about the potential dangers of the large bonfire - being built ahead of November 5 - with her two-year-old son Royal also living with her.
She said a similar bonfire in the same place was built and set alight last year and caused damage to her property and forced her to move her son out of his room to protect him. Gold said: "I should feel safe for me and my son in my home. I'm very worried. It is already big and will only get bigger."
After the story was published, the city council said it understood the concerns and would be working with partners to take action. The council tweeted: "Colleagues at Liverpool Street Scene have cleared a huge pile of timber placed close to houses in Kirkdale, following concerns raised by local residents and councillors. It is part of work in the run-up to Bonfire Night to keep communities safe."
Kind stranger steps in after schoolboy, 11, saves brother's life
A kind stranger stepped in to reward a brave schoolboy after reading how he helped to save his brother's life.
Eleven-year-old Alfie Eaton, from Ellesmere Port, called for help after his brother James, 14, was found unresponsive in bed by his mum Georgia, who collapsed in shock. Georgia said Alfie, who has ADHD, "took full control" of the situation by speaking to paramedics, letting them into the house and calling his nan for help.
After reading the heroic schoolboy's story in the ECHO, John Mawdsley came forward to offer Alfie a gift card for his bravery on behalf of his company Survitec. John said the company, which is a survival technology solutions provider, opened a branch in Ellesmere Port last year and was keen to congratulate Alfie for his "amazing" actions.
Mum Georgia, 36, said: "It's really overwhelming that there's people who would do something incredible for a young boy. Alfie doesn't ask for anything so for someone to put forward a gift for a young boy after what he did that day, it blows me away."
Family of mum who died of cancer get refund on cancelled holiday after decision overturned
The family of a mum-of-two who died just five days after her cancer diagnosis was refused a refund by a popular holiday company because it was cancelled too late.
Sykes Cottages only agreed to provide a refund to the devastated family after being contacted by the ECHO. Mark Whyte, the partner of Danielle Duffy, a teacher and mum who died in October last year, was originally denied a refund by Sykes Cottages after he tried to cancel the trip.
Mark and 38-year-old Danielle had intended to go for a celebratory weekend away for their birthdays on November 19 at Pennington Cottage in the Lake District. But following Danielle's death from a 'cancer of unknown origin,' grieving Mark cancelled the booking.
Despite previous correspondence from Booking.com showing a full refund would be given, Sykes Cottages refused to waive the £425 cancellation charges, despite the tragic circumstances. Mark's dad, Adrian Whyte, said Sykes Cottages hadn't "shown any empathy" and "seemed keen to profit from this tragic loss."
After the ECHO contacted Sykes Cottages, they said they would be happy to provide a refund to the grief-stricken family.
Nan returns home after devastating fire thanks to kindness of community
A nan was able to return home after a devastating fire thanks to donations from people across the city.
Marina Wynne, 85, lost everything when her Croxteth home went up in flames in a matter of minutes on Friday, March 19 last year. She took shelter in the kitchen where two neighbours, who were driving past at the time, rescued her.
But Marina refused to leave the house without her husband Ted's ashes - the only item that managed to be salvaged from the fire. The 85-year-old spent the following six weeks living in a care home after she was unable to return home due to the extensive smoke and fire damage.
People across Merseyside came together to help Marina after reading the story in the ECHO and raised £5,770 in donations. It was thanks to this money that Marina's son and grandson were able to renovate the house and bring her back home that June.
In a letter, shared by the ECHO, Marina thanked everyone who helped her get back on her feet from local businesses and workmen to people in the community. Marina said: "Thank you all so much for the kindness and generosity I will never forget what you have done for me."
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