Help with searching
There are a number of different types of search that you can use, either on their own or in combination to really narrow down and focus your results. These are:
- Keywords search (e.g. day nursery)
- Search by postcode (e.g. GL1 2TG)
- Refine search using filters
- Sorting your search results
Keywords Search (e.g. day nursery)
Just typing in a few words into the search box brings you back all entries that contain at least one of the words you have entered. You can also use special characters to limit your results more closely. The plus sign (+) before a word means that each of the results must contain that word, so the example search below brings back all results containing both of the words housing and advice.
Using double quotes (") around your search words brings back only results that contain those words as an exact phrase, for example:
Try to use a broad term for whatever you are looking for. For example, instead of "cancer", try "illness".
Search by postcode (e.g. GL1 2TG)
Entering a full postcode in the box marked 'Located in' will bring back results in order of closeness to that postcode. This is really useful for finding services located close to your home.
Refine search using filters
Once you have your search results, you may be able to improve them further by selecting one or more of the search filters which are displayed in lists to the left of your results. These filters allow you to limit results by subject area (such as 'Childcare') and so on. The more use you make of the filters, the more focussed your results will be.
Sorting your search results
You can change the sort order of your search results using the options that are shown in the section just above your results. Depending on the type of search that you have done, your results can appear in any of the following sort orders:
- Sorted by relevance (i.e. the best match to your search)
- Sorted alphabetically (i.e. in A-Z order of title with numbers first)
- Sorted by distance (only if you have done a full postcode search)