shop4support was created when In Control, the national charity and pioneer of self-directed support, came up with the idea of using the internet to help people needing support find and buy care products and services more easily.

As a website that helps people take charge of their own support so they can live the life they want, shop4support is similar to an online supermarket but is dedicated to social care - it's a unique shopping experience for people who have a disability, are getting older and/ or need support to live their life. We believe the support people need should be designed in a way which makes sense to each individual and their family, so that people can direct their own support.

shop4support enables you to shop around for information, the support products or services you need, then order and pay for them as you need them.

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  Award winning

  shop4support's work with Harrow Council, the 'Citizen Portal,' won the Support for Independence Award at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement's Health and Social Care Awards(London Region) in 2010.

  Read about how the Citizen Portal has helped Harrow resident Robin Blake discover a whole world of new activities to enrich his life.

  Find out more about the local authority Citizen Portal here.

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  Department of Health

  shop4support has been awarded a three year Section 64 grant from the Department of Health. Section 64 grants are awarded to organisations in England whose activities support the Department of Health's policy priorities. In being awarded the grant, shop4support has been recognised as an innovative project of national significance that will complement statutory services and so help secure provision of high quality health and social care and promote the nation's health.

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  Find out more

  Our press and publications page features information leaflets about shop4support, as well as media coverage of our successes!