Latest news with #NationalCouncilofSocialService
CNA
3 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Income Insurance, NCSS launch new S$10m grant for social service agencies to support caregivers
Social service agencies in Singapore can soon tap a new S$10 million grant to support caregivers' quality of life, such as their mental well-being and financial adequacy. Launched by Income Insurance in partnership with the National Council of Social Service, the grant will support up to 20 selected programmes over five years. Agencies can start applying for the grant in September. This comes amid an increasing demand for caregivers as Singapore's population ages. Charlotte Lim reports.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Social services veteran Anita Fam gets MSF's first Lifetime Achievement Award
Ms Anita Fam said one of her main goals is to help charities build their capabilities by enabling them to invest in talent and retain it. SINGAPORE – About three decades ago, former lawyer Anita Fam saw a physiotherapist help a girl walk for the first time. This was at Singapore's first school for children with multiple disabilities, where she witnessed the school's first – and only – physiotherapist at work. Later, she accepted a request from AWWA's late founder Leaena Tambyah to join its board as legal adviser. 'Just to see that look of sheer joy on the girl's face, that she could do this, is something I will never forget,' said the 62-year-old Ms Fam, who is currently the president of the National Council of Social Service. The move set her on a journey of social service, which has lasted well over 20 years and has seen her holding key roles in the National Healthcare Group Board, Singapore Hospice Council and St Andrew's Autism Centre, among others. She has contributed to improving mental health and palliative care in Singapore, along with efforts geared towards those living with disability. These contributions were recognised on July 25 when Ms Fam was given the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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MSF's awards recognise the impact of volunteers, social service agencies (SSAs) and corporate partners. Apart from the Lifetime Achievement Award, three other awards were introduced this year: the Outstanding Agency Award for exemplary SSAs, the Outstanding Partner Award for impactful partner organisations, and the Lifetime Service Award for volunteers who have served with MSF for 25 years. A total of 140 volunteers and partners were recognised on July 25. Their contributions range from foster parenting to supporting programmes for lower-income families and youths at risk. Social service agencies Samaritans of Singapore, Fei Yue Community Services and Rainbow Centre received the Outstanding Agency Award, while corporates DBS and SP Group got the Outstanding Partner Award. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said at the ceremony that the refreshed awards better recognise the impact that volunteers, SSAs and corporate partners have made. He noted that there has been a shift from ad-hoc volunteering to sustained and skill-based volunteerism, along with a shift towards sustainable philanthropy for corporates. He said MSF will roll out a foundational training programme for new volunteers in 2025. The programme was co-created with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and comes in response to volunteers' feedback for more learning and development opportunities. Ms Fam told The Straits Times one of her main goals is to help charities build their capabilities by enabling them to invest in talent and retain it. This is done through various initiatives such as the sector salary guidelines and the Community Capability Trust that aims to resource the sector with $480 million over 10 years to strengthen SSAs' organisational capabilities. Fund raising is a challenge for charities. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli presenting the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Ms Anita Fam. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Ms Fam recalled that during the Covid-19 pandemic, she was worried about SSAs, as their services were disrupted. The first support measures the Government introduced was to prop up businesses, and she lost sleep over SSAs, which rely on public donations, being left to fund raise by themselves. 'How would they continue – the isolated seniors, the persons with disabilities, who are so reliant on therapy and other interventions? We really didn't know how long everything would last,' said Ms Fam, who was the chairwoman at Assisi Hospice at the time. In 2020, she started a fund for these charities by forking out $1 million of her own. She then called NCSS Community Chest chairman Phillip Tan, who helped top up the fund to $5 million. And later, the Government and community also chipped in, and the fund snowballed to more than $28 million. The Invictus Fund was able to support 90 social service agencies through the pandemic. Ms Fam said she has seen the sector evolve from being poorly funded and volunteer-run, with SSAs formerly known as 'voluntary welfare organisations', to becoming better-resourced and more cognisant of the need for corporate services. She recalled how the special education sector started out without trained principals or a proper curriculum, but became professionalised over the years. Ms Fam acknowledged that every time the salary benchmarks are raised, it increases the pressure on SSAs to fund raise. 'But at the same time, the ones who are stronger in what they do are the ones who have probably invested way more selectively into the quality of manpower that they have, and it's reflective of the services,' she said. Ms Fam hopes to change minds of donors and SSAs from wanting to ensure money goes straight to beneficiaries, to investing in SSAs to do far more with the money invested in them. She also hopes SSAs can work together with each other, as well as with social enterprises and for-profit companies, to serve vulnerable groups. Ms Fam said that better collaboration among SSAs would ensure clients do not have to give the same information to several different agencies serving them. Of her decades-long journey, she said: 'I've never engineered any of the commitments and responsibilities that I have taken on. I've always responded to a need or request. 'If I can make a difference in some small way, then I will do so.'
Independent Singapore
09-07-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
Over 87,000 senior citizens lived alone last year, more than twice as many as a decade ago
Depositphotos/sweet_tomato SINGAPORE: An increasing number of elderly Singaporeans are living alone, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) latest report on family trends that was released on Monday (7 July). The report found that about 11.4 per cent of residents aged 65 and above were living alone last year, which is more than double the proportion a decade ago. This translates to more than 87,200 seniors living by themselves in 2024, up from approximately 43,000 ten years earlier. While the number of elderly people living alone has shot up, most seniors continue to reside with family. The report found that 80% of those aged 65 and above lived with a spouse or children. In the same period, the population of seniors living in family settings expanded sharply from 466,300 in 2014 to 767,900 in 2024. About 60% of elderly respondents expressed satisfaction with family support and relationships. Around 90% agreed that maintaining close ties between grandparents and grandchildren was very important. See also Stories you might've missed, Dec 26 At the same time, caregiving can take a toll on those looking after older relatives. The National Council of Social Service's Quality of Life Survey found that caregivers reported lower overall quality of life and less satisfaction with family support compared with non-caregivers. The proportion of caregivers and non-caregivers who said they were satisfied with their family relationships, however, was broadly similar. This suggests that while caregivers often wish for more practical help, they still value and appreciate their family connections. This is the second consecutive year that the MSF has released its family trends report, which tracks developments in marriage patterns, family relationships, resilience, early childhood education, and other key social issues. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
CNA
02-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
S$7.5m fund launched to help social service agencies track impact of programmes, refine offerings
Social service agencies can tap a new S$7.5 million fund to improve expected outcomes of their programmes and refine services. The National Council of Social Service said this will attract sustained funding as sponsors can better track the progress of the programmes. The fund was announced at the NCSS Social Service Summit. Around S$34 million has been invested into technology capabilities within the social service sector since 2022. These aim to improve operational efficiency and help alleviate manpower challenges amid a shortage of social workers. Chloe Teo reports.
Business Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
TribeX at NCSS Summit 2025 showcases tech used by social service agencies
[SINGAPORE] A small robot that has a warm temperature, allowing one to be comforted when holding it, is one example of the technologies showcased by non-profit organisation Awwa at National Council of Social Service (NCSS) Summit 2025's TribeX on Wednesday (Jul 2) and Thursday. The companion robot, called Lovot, helps children with developmental needs practise social interactions and emotional recognition. Lovots can also be used to support seniors who are socially isolated. Currently, Awwa has eight Lovots in operation. Another piece of tech showcased by Awwa was a robotic exoskeleton, which physiotherapists use to help people with mobility issues overcome physical challenges. This wearable device adapts to each user's conditions and provides precise, guided movements. Ng Lee Lee, director of disability and inclusion at Awwa, said: 'Technology enhances and augments service delivery, because it rapidly changes, may be customised to suit individual needs, and can be cost-effective.' Physiotherapists use the robotic exoskeleton to help people with mobility issues overcome physical challenges. PHOTO: LINDSAY WONG, BT Digital platforms Meanwhile, Care Corner showcased three digital platforms at TribeX. The first is Scribe, a transcription and summarising tool used by case workers during sessions with clients. Gina Lin, head of Innovation Squad at Care Corner, said it reduces time spent on case documentation by 50 per cent. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 'This efficiency allows social service professionals to focus more on the beneficiaries and their needs, rather than being bogged down by administrative tasks,' she added. Buddy is a parenting app with bite-sized resources and interactive lessons. Around 400 parents have used it since its launch in 2023. Lastly, Carey is a microsite for youths seeking mental health support. They can conduct mental health check-ins, instantly book counselling sessions and access self-help content. Lin said: 'Technology is crucial in the social services sector because it enables in-time support for beneficiaries… This empowerment fosters greater independence and self-sufficiency among those we serve.' Pro Bono SG is another charity that showcased its digital platform at TribeX. LawGoWhere is a one-stop legal help portal that people can access when they do not know where to go when they require assistance. Kelvin Lim, senior manager at Pro Bono SG Academy, said: 'Legal awareness often only becomes urgent when someone's already in crisis. At that point, the pressure is high, and the legal system can feel overwhelming - full of jargon and unfamiliarity.' LawGoWhere breaks down complex legal concepts into bite-sized and user-friendly content. The platform also features a self-help tool that guides users to their optimal ports of call. Besides social service agencies (SSAs), tech companies such as Amazon Web Services also showcased their own innovations that can be used in the sector. Tan Li San, chief executive of NCSS, said: 'With SSAs demonstrating their adoption of innovative technologies at the exhibition, including AI-enabled solutions to enhance service delivery, TribeX demonstrates how the fusion of talent and technology is transforming social services in Singapore.' Largest-ever summit TribeX is part of NCSS Summit 2025 – which is the largest NCSS summit thus far – bringing together more than 2,000 social service professionals. At the summit, which took place at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, NCSS also announced the launch of the SG60 Towards Sustainability Fund. The S$7.5 million fund provides one-off funding of S$30,000 to eligible NCSS members, who can use it to build capabilities in measuring, monitoring and reporting the effectiveness of their programmes for beneficiaries. Tan said: 'With improved reporting of outcomes, SSAs can share high-impact programmes with funders to attract sustained funding for those programmes.' Applications for the fund are open from Wednesday. The Social Service Professional Awards, which also took place on Wednesday, recognised 13 individuals and two teams for their contributions to the social services sector. JR Karthikeyan, chief executive of Awwa, won the President's Award for Social Service Professionals. Since joining in 2007, he helped to set up the Allied Health Professional Group, a therapy hub, and the inclusive preschool Kindle Garden, among other initiatives. He said: 'At Awwa, we strive to build and maintain a culture of teaching and learning, and we encourage continuous improvements and innovation that may ultimately lead to a higher quality of life for those we serve.'
