What makes a good organisation description?
The organisation description tells people the information they need to know about your organisation. The description is like a mini "About Us" for your organisation page on ALISS.
Note: An organisation usually provides services, but it can just be an activity, club, group or resource. You can add a large organisation with lots of services or a small community group. The ALISS system makes it simple to add both.
Note: You can add private businesses to ALISS, however, they must provide services with a health and wellbeing benefit.
This is an example of how an ALISS organisation page looks when published on the ALISS website. The arrow is pointing at the organisation description:
The example shows how ALISS lists multiple services on the organisation page, and how any locations added to services will show on the page.
Tips:
Do state the purpose of your organisation
Keep the organisation description concise and focused, emphasising the most important and relevant information.
Do add the organisation details once
The ALISS search is designed for people searching for services, not organisations. People may not know your organisation's name, but they may search ALISS for, for example, "Knitting group".
Do use formatting
The organisation description box includes a formatting bar, which looks like this:
You can use it to:
- Bold key information
- Add bullet points for lists
- Indent or space out text or sections
A clear, tidy layout helps people quickly understand what your organisation does.
Do not add service information to the organisation description
Unless your organisation is the only service you provide, do not describe your services in detail in the organisation description field; you can add service details in Step 2 of the Add to ALISS input form. You can add multiple services after you have submitted your first service.
Do not use block capitals
Do not write in block capitals. They create barriers to accessibility for many individuals, including those with disabilities or learning difficulties. Using mixed cases can help ensure that information is accessible to everyone.
Do not use acronyms
If you need to use an acronym, you must spell out the full name the first time you add it to the description, followed by the acronym in brackets. You can use acronyms that would be familiar to most readers, such as NHS, without spelling out National Health Service.
Do not add website links
Do not add your website URLs to the organisation description, people will not be able to click any link from the description. Screenreaders will read the entire URL out loud, which can be frustrating or confusing. The organisation URL should be added to the “Organisation Web Address” field only.
Do not add an address
Do not add an exact address to the organisation description field. You can add an address in Step 3 of the Add to ALISS form. The address field in Step 3 is directly linked to Google Maps, so people can get directions to your service more easily.
This is an example of an organisation description for Glasgow Food Network:
The description is brief but gives anyone who clicks on the organisation page a good idea of what the Glasgow Community Network does.
Why is a good organisation description important?
User trust
A clear and accurate service description contributes to building trust and credibility. People are more likely to engage with organisations that provide transparent and detailed information about who you are.
Note: Remember to update your organisation listing if anything changes.
Last reviewed: April 2025
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