Skip to content

Sign In

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. housing advice)

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.

+housing +advice

Using double quotes (") around your search words brings back only results that contain those words as an exact phrase, for example:

"badminton club"

Search by place name (e.g Compton)

Entering a place name in the box marked 'Located in' will bring back results of services based in and around that location.

Search by postcode (e.g. PL1 4DH)

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.

Search by part postcode (e.g. PL1)

Entering a the first part of a postcode (such as PL1) in the box marked 'Located in' will bring back a list of services and activities located in your postcode area.

Refine search using filters

Once you have your search results, you may be able to improve them still further by selecting one or more of the search filters which are displayed in lists to the right of your results. These filters allow you to limit results by subject area (such as 'Money Matters'), and by user group (such as 'Carers') 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)
  • Sorted by user rating (i.e. results that have been given the highest rating by other users first)

Back to top

Before engaging the services of any of the providers listed on the Devon Community Directory, please review our full disclaimer which can be viewed at www.directory.devon.gov.uk/kb5/devon/directory/disclaimer.page The Devon Community Directory is provided for information purposes only with information which has been supplied by third parties to Devon County Council. Devon County Council has not verified the accuracy of the information provided (e.g. qualifications) or conducted background checks (e.g. CRB - Criminal Record Bureau) against the providers listed, nor does it offer any endorsement as to the quality or suitability of any of the providers. Devon County Council cannot accept any liability or responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage resulting from the use of the Devon Community Directory. Always seek consumer advice before making a purchase. Trading Standards www.devon.gov.uk/tradingstandards and Consumer Direct (telephone 0845 4040506 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk) may be able to help you.