Press Release (5) - Infoengine

Infoengine powering the profile and awareness of third sector services in Denbighshire and throughout Wales as information sharing link between Infoengine and Dewis Cymru now LIVE!

We are delighted to announce that technical developments allowing information about relevant third sector organisations and services to be shared between Infoengine and Dewis Cymru are now operational.

Infoengine is an online directory of third sector services in Wales provided and supported by Third Sector Support Wales, a partnership of County Voluntary Councils and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. It has over 4,000 services offered by voluntary organisations and community groups. This number increases daily.

Carl Cooper, Chief Executive of Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) who first developed Infoengine in Powys before it was rolled out nationwide said:

“There are nearly 40,000 voluntary organisations and community groups across Wales whose services support individuals in many ways. Infoengine is THE online directory of voluntary sector services for Wales that helps citizens, groups and professionals to find out what services are available to support people in your area. Our link with Dewis Cymru means that people don't need to visit more than one place for information. Voluntary sector service information is registered on Infoengine and also displayed in Dewis. The shortlist facility enables users to create specific shortlists that are automatically updated and can be printed to produce hard copy directories. The Infoengine widget also enables you to embed the Infoengine search engine in your own website. Infoengine grows daily and is proving an essential tool in providing information, advice and assistance to the people of Wales."

Helen Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) said: “This online directory of third sector services in Wales, which is linked to and integrated with Dewis Cymru, is now the go to place for third sector groups and organisations to list the services available and for members of the public to find out about the services available from the third sector. DVSC is delighted to see this local initiative and digital innovation by PAVO, the County Voluntary Council in Powys finally go nationwide, with support and collaboration between Third Sector Support Wales and the public sector.”

Helen also noted: “Like all great digital tools and platforms, Infoengine is only as good as we make it. So I want to urge all voluntary and community groups, third sector organisations and social enterprises in Denbighshire to register and list the full range of services on offer and to ask our public service partners in the County to promote it so that the public have the widest possible information and choice as possible. The more we engage, and work together in partnership, the more we raise the profile and awareness of third sector services among the public, professionals and public service partners and the more we can help promote and support wellbeing for all.”

This development is a real example of practical collaboration between the third sector and the public sector in Wales and ensures that information is readily available to both the public and to those who offer advice and support to the public across Wales. In practical terms, information about such services is now visible on both sites regardless of where the information is added.

Notes to Editors

About DVSC

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, DVSC, the County Voluntary Council operating in Denbighshire. Our mission is to build resilient communities through voluntary action and social enterprise, to provide excellent support for our members and to be an influential voice for the sector in Denbighshire and North Wales.

DVSC works closely with North Wales CVCs, and is a member of the Wales Association of County Voluntary Councils (WACVC) which in partnership with the Wales Council of Voluntary Associations (WCVA) forms the partnership that makes up Third Sector Support Wales.

Dewis Cymru is a website providing information about well-being in Wales. The website is developed by Data Cymru on behalf of the 22 local authorities in Wales. It contains a resource directory of over 6,000 local and national organisations and services including local authority services, community groups, voluntary organisations and businesses. Infoengine adds to this a comprehensive set of information about third sector services making it a unique source of information for use across Wales. It also includes a set of Information Pages designed to help people think about ‘what matters’ to them, and helps them find local, practical support.

For further information contact Helen Wilkinson, DVSC’s Chief Executive, helenw@dvsc.co.uk 01824 702 441 or 07957 684 079