Readers are taking a stand against fake news

One of Sheffield’s last cutlery factories has received a £10,000 Covid grant, ensuring the survival of the 270-year-old company until at least next year.

Boss of Chimo Holdings, Chris Hudson, received The Star’s email business bulletin warning him the scheme was closing the next day and stayed late to apply for it.

It’s not an isolated incident, the paper also helped macaroni n’ cheese kitchen Macpot win a battle with HMRC which led to a £25,000 grant and was key to Global Windows in Handsworth being reassessed by Sheffield City Council and also receiving £25,000.

Championing good causes is what we do.

The Star publicised a campaign by aquatics and diving clubs to reopen Ponds Forge before March. It has since been brought forward to October.

We’re promoting women’s basketball team Sheffield Hatters as they seek £60,000 sponsorship to keep playing in the premier league.

And we’ve just launched a campaign for caring companies to donate unwanted laptops to deprived schoolkids.

The Star is also big on scrutiny. Because secrecy is at best unhealthy, at worst corrupt.

We break news when we think it is important and not when the vested interests say we should.

It might sometimes be through gritted teeth, but the council, the universities, business, the arts and healthcare bodies unanimously agree that a paper is an essential part of any self-respecting city and it would be at a disadvantage without it.

We have published independent, impartial news for more than 130 years.

But times have changed and today the world is beset by fake news published to create confusion, hate and division.

An unchecked tsunami of content swamps the internet every day, harming democracy everywhere.

That’s why more and more people feel our job has never been so important. And they are prepared to take a stand and support us in different ways, including with a subscription.

People like Jill Thomas of Future Life Wealth Management, Samantha Dixon of Weston Park Cancer Charity, David Cross of Sky-House, Dan Kirkland of Tribepad and organisations from City Taxis to the University of Sheffield have backed us.

They are part of a new movement keen to strengthen our society. Will you join them?