Connect to the Care Market with Connect to Support

Register FREE today to be a part of one of the largest growing care and information websites in the country. 

The West Sussex Connect to Support website helps anyone who needs some support to remain independent to shop for support services and products, find local activities and groups and look up information and advice. From its inception two years ago the site has grown to receive over 2,500 online visitors every month. Connect to Support is offering FREE listings and stores to new businesses and community groups. With over 200 community groups, and nearly 200 stores selling a combined total of over 3000 local products and services, what customers want most is more choice.

Visit www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org and click the ‘Information for providers and community groups’ button. From there you can ‘Establish your online presence’ and register within five minutes. Want a hand getting your shop established? No problem. PCG Solutions who operate the site, have a dedicated help desk you can call on 0333 600 6330.

Features of an online store include:

• Your own homepage – linking to catalogues in which to market your products and services.
• Your own URL to drive customers directly to your store.
• Integration with your own website, financial or case management system.
• Use of Connect to Support’s branding within your own marketing literature.
• A full support infrastructure, with dedicated Account Manager and helpline.
• Any branches you may have in different geographical locations can be mirrored online, with different store branches created from a master catalogue of products and services.
• Pricing can be tailored to individual customers (allowing for agreed negotiated prices away from the public marketplace).
• You can choose from a range of payment options, both online and offline, using cheques, cash, credit or debit cards or PayPal.
• Automated and paperless ordering, receipting and invoicing results in a significant reduction in invoice queries, administrative time and costs.

By registering your organisation you will also benefit from a host of marketing around Connect to Support (such as social media, bus backs and print advertising) and access digital resources you can use to showcase your affiliation with Connect to Support and West Sussex County Council. By agreeing to the Connect to Support code of conduct you will be signalling your commitment to ethical trading to potential new customers across the county.

Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Later Life, said: “West Sussex Connect to Support offers much-needed information when you need to support a friend or relative, buy vital equipment or research local community groups and services. We hope more groups will continue to follow suit and register.”

What’s more is Community groups could now win an iPad if they register on the West Sussex Connect to Support website. All community groups need to do to be in with a chance of winning is register before the draw on Friday 26 August 2016.

One group has already benefitted from completing their listing, with the winner of the previous draw announced last month.

Martin Stean was awarded the first iPad (provided by Connect to Support) on behalf of the Hollyrood Centre in Lindfield, a residential and day centre that supports people with autism.

Hollyrood is part of Autism Spectrum Partners within The Disabilities Trust, providing up to 40 beds for autistic people. One of four such centres running across West Sussex, 60-70% of their visitors find it extremely difficult to cope with the over sensory stimulation associated with modern life, so find these calming centres invaluable.

In less than five minutes you could join them, showcasing your organisation’s services to the residents of West Sussex.

Contact us on 0333 6006330 or visit www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org