What is Suffolk InfoLink?
Suffolk InfoLink is an online directory of community
information.
It is designed
- to be a searching and signposting tool for people
- to give organisers of local activities and services an easy and
effective means of promotion
- to provide information on what activities are on offer and how
services can be accessed.
What information is held on Suffolk InfoLink and how can I
search for it?
Suffolk InfoLink holds information on clubs, societies,
community and voluntary organisations and services, giving priority
to those based in Suffolk. InfoLink can be searched by
keyword, by broad topic category, by subject and on a geographical
basis. It is designed to allow searching to a local level
using keywords, and a map searching option is
available.
The advanced search and map searching allow for searching of
different criteria in combination.
Is there any vetting of information?
There is no mechanism for vetting of organisations, activities
and services before they are added to InfoLink, although records
will be checked for accuracy.
Please see
Important information to read BEFORE using InfoLink for
more details.
This contains a
Checklist of questions you can ask when thinking about
whether to attend a club or activity or use a service.
Criteria for inclusion of organisations.
- Suffolk InfoLink lists voluntary and statutory organisations,
giving priority to those based in Suffolk. National or
international organisations will be included where a local contact
or branch is available or if they offer services relevant to the
people of Suffolk.
- Commercial or profit-making organisations will be listed on
Suffolk InfoLink if they satisfy the following criteria:
-
- They are community based or represent a significant
contribution to their local community
- They provide goods, activities or services that support the
personal needs of an individual’s well being. Services that improve
an individual’s environment, such as home maintenance or gardening,
will not be listed, but will be linked to where
possible.
- Relevant commercial or profit-making financial organisations
will be listed on Suffolk InfoLink. However, because of their
specialist nature, Suffolk Infolink does not list organisations
whose primary business is the selling or promotion of particular
financial products such as insurance policies, debt consolidation
loans or equity release schemes. For further information on these
products please contact the Financial Services Authority
www.fsa.gov.uk. Suffolk InfoLink
will provide information about credit union facilities and / or
free debt advice services. You are strongly advised to seek
independent advice on all financial matters.
- Financial charges for services and activities will be listed
where these are supplied by the organisation. Suffolk InfoLink will
request this information but takes no responsibility for the
accuracy of these charges. It is the customers’ responsibility to
check with the organisation before acting on the information
given.
- Organisations which are prohibited by law or which engage in
illegal activities will not be included in Suffolk InfoLink.
- Suffolk InfoLink uses information that has been provided by the
official representative of an organisation. Impersonation of
an official representative and the supply of false information will
result in the removal of that information.
- Suffolk InfoLink is not designed to perform the role of an
online business directory and will not necessarily list
organisations individually.
- It is intended to be a signposting resource. If a
reasonable online alternative exists then Suffolk InfoLink will
point towards that listing.
- Organisations which are excluded from Suffolk InfoLink based on
the above criteria will be able to appeal against the decision
using the standard county council complaints procedure.
Coverage – what if I can’t find what I am looking for?
We cannot guarantee an exhaustive listing in any one area.
Please let us know about any gaps in information.
Contact us
Are events listed on Infolink?
In general, Suffolk InfoLink is not a calendar or a listing for
one-off events. These can be found on other web sites, such
as the One Suffolk portal
www.onesuffolk.co.uk
However, if organisations are listing activities as part of a
programme, then these might be found on InfoLink.
How accurate and up to date is the information listed on
Suffolk InfoLink?
Staff will actively work to maintain the directory, but the
responsibility for the accuracy of the data sent in rests with the
providers.
We cannot guarantee the accuracy of data supplied, but we will
review this data at least once per year. Each organisation
and service will be contacted to update their information.
Organisations that fail to respond to requests to update their data
will be removed from the directory.
What should I do to add or change an entry on Suffolk
InfoLink?
If you would like to add your organisation to Suffolk InfoLink
please complete the
Add Your Organisation form. Once you have sent it to us, your
information will be checked by staff to ensure data quality before
being published on the web site. You will also be sent a user
name and password, which you can use to update your details
whenever necessary. If your organisation is already listed on
Suffolk InfoLink and you would like a user name and
password to update your record, please
contact us.
Does it cost anything?
There is no charge for accessing the information. Organisations
can add and update their information completely free of charge.
How will any personal information be used?
The law on data protection states that we must obtain consent
before any personal data is stored. Your personal information
will only be entered when you have given your consent.
You can select to withhold personal information and parts of the
record from public view if you wish. Personal information that
is withheld from publication on the internet can be viewed
by Suffolk InfoLink administrators only.
In some cases publicly available information may be used to create
a hardcopy directory. Please
contact us if you have any concerns about how personal
data will be used.
What if I have a comment or complaint about an organisation
listed on Suffolk InfoLink?
If you have a complaint, please contact the organisation that
provided the activity or service first. Explain the problem
and tell them what you would like done about it. If you are
not happy with the way your complaint is answered, contact the
national body to which the organisation is linked, for example
Scouts. If you have paid for an activity or service and your
complaint remains unresolved, contact Trading Standards 08454
040506.
What if I am concerned that someone attending a club, activity
or service has been abused?
If a criminal offence has been committed contact the
police.
For other concerns contact Customer First
on 0808 800 4005 or email
customer.first@suffolk.gov.uk