Searching
There are three ways to search on the site: you can either do a simple search by geography (postcode or borough) or free text; or an advanced search on a number of other criteria.
Simple search (geography or free text)
To do a simple search on geography, either input the local postcode (e.g. your client’s postcode) or choose the relevant borough, and click the search button. This will take you to the bottom of the page, where your results are displayed.
To do a simple search on a word or sentence of your choice (free text), enter the text into the ‘free text’ box and click the search button. This will take you to the bottom of the page, where your results are displayed.
Please note that when you do a free text search, you search only on the text provided by the organisations themselves, such as organisation name; description of the organisation; programme name; and programme description. You may therefore not get any results on this search, if your search term is not contained in this text.
Advanced search
To do an advanced search, just click the ‘Advanced search’ button below the geography and free text boxes – this will take you straight to the search.
If you want to, you can also include a postcode, borough or free text phrase in an advanced search – just put in the details in the top right hand boxes, and then click the ‘advanced search’ button. Now these options will be included in your advanced search!
In the advanced search section, you can also choose options within the following areas:
- Organisation type
- Type of service provided
- Eligibility criteria for programmes (for individuals)
- Sectors covered
Once you have entered all the criteria you wish to search on, click the search button below the advanced search section, and you will see your results displayed below.
Please note that the search will only return results that fulfil all your criteria – therefore, if you tick a lot of boxes, you may get very few results, as only a few organisation may fulfil every criteria you have entered.
Search results
Once you have completed your search, you will see a list of search results. At the top, you will also see which geography (if any) you searched on.
The list displays: the name of the organisation; the location of the organisation; and the beginning of the brief description of the organisation. If the location or description are missing, this is due to the information not being provided by the organisation.
On the right hand side, you have the option to Select an organisation. If you click this link, it will take you to the page which displays more detailed information about the provider.
Viewing the organisation details
On the organisation page, you can see a lot of information about the organisation; you can also find a map and get travel directions, and print out the information. If this is your organisation, you can also log in to request amendments to your details.
What can I see?
Apart from basic contact details for the organisation, such as address, telephone number and e-mail address, you can also find the following information on the site:
- A brief description of the organisation, provided by the organisation, introducing you to them and their work.
- Any quality accreditations held by the organisation, such as Matrix, Investors in People or PQASSO.
- The organisation’s facilities including access for disabled people, client access to computers, parking and opening hours outside weekday and daytime.
- The boroughs covered by the organisation’s work. If you can see both East London and West London boroughs, this is because the organisation has noted that they cover all London.
- A Google map of the organisation’s location. On the organisation page this is a small map, but you can also click on it to get a larger map, which will also show you a larger area around the organisation.
- You can also get travel directions by clicking on the button below the map. This will take you to the Journey Planner (Transport for London), where the organisation’s postcode will be automatically completed in the ‘travel to’ box. If you put in a postcode in your search, this will automatically be completed in the ‘travel from’ box.
You can also see information about the programmes that the organisation runs. Initially, you will just see the name of the programme. By clicking on the plus sign next to the programme name, you will expand the information. Provided that the organisation have completed this information, you can then see:
- a short description of the programme;
- the funder of the programme;
- services provided under the programme (can be further expanded by clicking on the plus sign);
- eligibility criteria for the programme;
- the sectors the programme covers
Returning to your search results or refining your search
If you want to return to your ‘Search results’ list, or to change your search, click on the Refine search button in the upper right hand part of the page. This will take you back to the search, and if you scroll down, you will see the search results from your latest search again.
Printing the organisation information
If you want to print the information about the organisation, just click on the Print button in the upper right hand part of the page. This will only print the information in the middle of the page (inc. the map), and not the menu bar to the left, the buttons or the picture at the top.
If you want to print the programme information, make sure that you expand the programme details so that you can see on screen what you want to print – this is what you can see on the print-out.
Changing your information
If you want to print the programme information, make sure that you expand the programme details so that you can see on screen what you want to print – this is what you can see on the print-out.
When the site was launched, you will have been sent a login and password to the e-mail address you have provided (the one that can be seen on the site)*. Enter your details and click the Login button.
Now that you are logged in, at the bottom of the page – below the programme information – you will see a link: ‘Update this organisation’. By clicking on this link, you will open up the same form that you completed when you first provided your information. Follow this procedure to request a change:
- Make your changes in the form
- Save the form to your computer
- E-mail the form to the site administrator (e-mail address in the menu bar on the right hand side)
- The administrator will upload your form onto the site database, and your information will be changed.
* If you cannot remember or find your login details for the site, click on Login in the menu bar to the left. Click ‘Forgot password’ under the Login button, and follow the instructions to be sent new details.
I have a question/problem – how can I get in contact?
If you have a question about the site; are experiencing problems; you know a useful link to add; or if your organisation is not listed on the site but you would like to be listed, please e-mail the site administrator – you can find the e-mail address in the menu bar to the left on the site