What is the Community Directory?
The Council’s Community Directory – formerly known as COMIS – is intended to help people who live or work in the City and Hackney area to access information about services available to them. The current directory holds information on over 2,400 organisations and services which range from small, unfunded, local voluntary groups to large statutory bodies such as social care services and health services. Also included are national and London-wide groups, such as 24 helplines, normally where there is no similar local provison.
What is in the Community Directory?
The database covers over 2,400 organisations in the local area which provide help and support to local people. Services covered include:
- Local voluntary, community and self-help groups
- Council Services
- GP surgeries and health centres
- Advice centres and helplines
- Acute and community health services
- Schools, colleges and training providers
- Childcare, youth activities, arts, leisure and much more.
For each organisation, where relevant, the Community Directory provides the following:
- Contact details including phone, fax, text phone, email and web addresses
- Services provided by the organisation
- Opening times
- Referral policy
- Languages spoken
- Access details.
How can the Community Directory help me?
The on-line system has a number of facilities to help you get the information you want, as quickly as possible. These include:
Search for services
The Community Directory has a number of different search facilities allowing you to hunt for a particular service in the area. For example, you could ask for a list of all organisations which provide counselling in the E9 area, look for welfare benefits advices for Asian people or even seek out advocates who speak a particular language.
Interact with groups on-line
Where groups are on-line, you can visit their website or send them an email straight away
View maps
View and print out a detailed map of an organisation's location
Browse other search sites
A comprehensive list of other useful search sites will be available to help you get the information you need.
Add or update your details on-line
There is an easy to use on-line form so you can add your organisation or service to the Community Directory or update your current entry.
Dynamic development
A online feedback form has been built in to help us evaluate user needs and to make the system more user friendly in the future.
The City and Hackney Community Information Database, on which this system was based, received funding initially through Hackney Council for Voluntary Services (HCVS), the NSPCC and City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust. Database design and usage remains joint copyright of the London Boroughs of Hackney and Newham.
DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
The Community Directory will continue to be developed to meet users needs over time.
If you spot any errors or omissions, have suggestions for future development or would simply like further information, then please contact the Web Team.
Copyright London Borough of Hackney, 2008
Page updated: 14 Feb 2008