# UK community **URL:** https://forum.openreferral.org/c/for-members-of-the-open-referral-uk-network/11.md [Latest](https://forum.openreferral.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.openreferral.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.openreferral.org/tags.md) --- ## [About the UK community category](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/about-the-uk-community-category/420)
**Author:** [@bloom](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/bloom)\ **Replies:** 0
Many thanks to the Open Referral UK community, and @MikeThacker in particular, for getting this forum started. We’ve created this dedicated Discourse category for posts from and for members of the UK network. We hope you… --- ## [A new chapter for Open Referral UK (ORUK)!](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/a-new-chapter-for-open-referral-uk-oruk/809)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 8:10am UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/a-new-chapter-for-open-referral-uk-oruk/809 "2026-10-01T08:10:32Z")
As of 01 April 2026, Open Referral UK (ORUK) officially begins a new chapter under the stewardship of iStandUK. This milestone not only marks a new organisational home, but a timely moment to pause, reflect and introduce… --- ## [Transforming Social Prescribing with the Open Referral UK Standard](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/transforming-social-prescribing-with-the-open-referral-uk-standard/869)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/transforming-social-prescribing-with-the-open-referral-uk-standard/869 "2026-09-11T06:27:58Z")
At iStandUK, we believe that when local services share data consistently using open standards, citizens can access vital support far more quickly, while public sector organisations operate free from the friction of disco… --- ## [National Data for Local Services Workshop](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/national-data-for-local-services-workshop/858)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 11:13am UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/national-data-for-local-services-workshop/858 "2026-07-29T11:13:02Z")
How much time does your team spend manually updating, verifying and maintaining local service directories? Across local government, directories for Family Information Services, SEND Local Offers and Adult Social Care re… --- ## [ORUK &SAVVI : Opportunities for the Tech Sector in Government-Endorsed Data Standards](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/oruk-savvi-opportunities-for-the-tech-sector-in-government-endorsed-data-standards/844)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/oruk-savvi-opportunities-for-the-tech-sector-in-government-endorsed-data-standards/844 "2026-06-25T15:04:41Z")
We are delighted to announce an upcoming event in partnership with techUK: SAVVI & ORUK: Opportunities for the Tech Sector in Government-Endorsed Data Standards. Taking place online on Wednesday 01st July from 12:00pm t… --- ## [Open Referral UK Steering Group: A New Chapter](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/open-referral-uk-steering-group-a-new-chapter/838)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/open-referral-uk-steering-group-a-new-chapter/838 "2026-06-10T12:25:32Z")
How can we make it easier for people to discover and access vital community services? It all comes down to how we share information. Open Referral UK (ORUK) has entered an exciting new phase, with iStandUK recently taki… --- ## [From Benefits to Outcomes: What the Open Referral UK Visioning Workshop Helped Us See](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/from-benefits-to-outcomes-what-the-open-referral-uk-visioning-workshop-helped-us-see/829)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/from-benefits-to-outcomes-what-the-open-referral-uk-visioning-workshop-helped-us-see/829 "2026-05-18T12:51:46Z")
Earlier this year, we brought together the iStandUK team and key stakeholders for an Open Referral UK (ORUK) away day to explore an important question: What better outcomes can be achieved when we share high‑quality, st… --- ## [ORUK - Job Opportunity](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/oruk-job-opportunity/828)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/oruk-job-opportunity/828 "2026-05-16T13:12:24Z")
We are excited to share an important update from Open Referral UK (ORUK) - we are looking for a talented individual to join the team! We are currently recruiting a dedicated Stakeholder Engagement Manager to support ORU… --- ## [Advancing Data Standards for Prevention: iStandUK’s Response to the New SAVVI and ORUK Pilots](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/advancing-data-standards-for-prevention-istanduk-s-response-to-the-new-savvi-and-oruk-pilots/801)
**Author:** [@Mevish-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Mevish-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/advancing-data-standards-for-prevention-istanduk-s-response-to-the-new-savvi-and-oruk-pilots/801 "2026-05-07T16:17:35Z")
Following the announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local Digital on the £1.1m investment to scale the SAVVI and Open Referral UK (ORUK) data standards across Greater Manchester Com… --- ## [iStandUK taking over stewardship of Open Referral UK](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/istanduk-taking-over-stewardship-of-open-referral-uk/793)
**Author:** [@MikeThacker-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/MikeThacker-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/istanduk-taking-over-stewardship-of-open-referral-uk/793 "2026-02-27T13:41:57Z")
The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has now announced that the stewardship of ORUK is moving from TPXimpact to iStandUK, hosted by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. In a message to our… --- ## [Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) request for information on ORUK tooling](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/department-for-work-and-pensions-dwp-request-for-information-on-oruk-tooling/787)
**Author:** [@MikeThacker-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/MikeThacker-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/department-for-work-and-pensions-dwp-request-for-information-on-oruk-tooling/787 "2026-02-27T13:35:36Z")
DWP has published a Request for Information on Contracts Finder (CF) and Find-a-Tender Service (FTS): CF – \[Open Referral Tool - Contracts Finder\](Open Referral Tool - Contracts Finder "Original URL: Open Referral To… --- ## [UK Government work update](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/uk-government-work-update/563)
**Author:** [@MikeThacker-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/MikeThacker-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/uk-government-work-update/563 "2025-10-01T15:36:21Z")
The UK Government Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has been running a project from April 2024 to increase the adoption of Open Referral UK. Our recent mailing gives some details. Note in part… --- ## [ORUK criteria in a nutshell](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/oruk-criteria-in-a-nutshell/646)
**Author:** [@Abigail](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/Abigail)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/oruk-criteria-in-a-nutshell/646 "2025-08-12T13:37:48Z")
Hi all, I’m wondering if anyone can summarise the compliance criteria for the UK standard in a very simple way for me. I have been browsing the new ORUK website and can’t seem to find anything which spells out clearly w… --- ## [UK website upgrade](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/uk-website-upgrade/626)
**Author:** [@MikeThacker-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/MikeThacker-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/uk-website-upgrade/626 "2025-04-03T15:55:22Z")
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MCLG) project to increase adoption of Open Referral UK (ORUK) will be upgrading the UK website at https://openreferraluk.org/ during the week of Monday 24 March 2… --- ## [Directory of Directories](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/directory-of-directories/485)
**Author:** [@PeterBates](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/PeterBates)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2024, 10:15am UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/directory-of-directories/485 "2024-10-15T10:15:34Z")
Hello everyone. I am interested in the extent to which Community Directories capture information about the community that lies beyond health and social care provision. I appreciate that many Directory builders focus on s… --- ## [Visit to the UK – workshopping visual vocabulary?](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/visit-to-the-uk-workshopping-visual-vocabulary/549)
**Author:** [@bloom](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/bloom)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2024, 9:45am UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/visit-to-the-uk-workshopping-visual-vocabulary/549 "2024-09-09T09:45:22Z")
Hi folks – looks like i’ll be coming to the UK, visiting London probably in the range of Sept 6-12th. It would be great to meet up with folks while I’m in town! Among other possibilities, I hope to connect in person wit… --- ## [The case and strategy for scaling adoption of Open Referral UK](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/the-case-and-strategy-for-scaling-adoption-of-open-referral-uk/443)
**Author:** [@MikeThacker-iStandUK](https://forum.openreferral.org/u/MikeThacker-iStandUK)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.openreferral.org/t/the-case-and-strategy-for-scaling-adoption-of-open-referral-uk/443 "2024-03-06T13:59:56Z")
The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is running a project to look at the case and potential strategy for wider adoption of the Open Referral standard. Open Referral UK was established as a s…