diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8fab21d..87c606b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,11 @@
-# vocabularies
-Issues and source files for CF controlled vocabularies
+# Vocabularies
+
+This repository is for the CF controlled vocabularies (standard names and canonical units, area types and the standardized region list).
+
+Proposals for new terms or modifications to existing terms should be made by opening a new issue. A template called 'Standard Names' is available to use for this purpose.
+
+Questions relating to any of the vocabularies can also be posed by opening a new issue.
+
+[Rules for making changes to the CF vocabularies ](https://cfconventions.org/standard_name_rules.html)
+
+[Guidelines for construction of CF Standard Names](https://cfconventions.org/Data/cf-standard-names/docs/guidelines.html)