Shaw Foundation ties up with NCSS to house social service agencies at upcoming Shaw Tower
The Shaw Foundation is also establishing its own non-governmental organisation (NGO) to run programmes for beneficiaries.
Raymond Chan, chairman of Shaw Foundation, said at Shaw Tower's topping-out ceremony on Tuesday (Jul 29): 'In our commitment to giving back to the community, we are collaborating with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) in dedicating space for social service agencies in Singapore such as Montfort Care.'
The effort comes under the Community and Sports Facilities Scheme by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This scheme allows developers additional floor space of up to 2,000 square metres or 10 per cent of the maximum allowable floor area for the site – whichever is lower – for community use.
The agencies will not pay rent to Shaw Towers Realty, the owner of Shaw Tower, but instead pay a service fee – in accordance with URA's requirements.
'This supports the broader push to integrate community facilities into commercial developments, supporting non-profit community service providers,' Chan added.
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Shaw Tower, located in Beach Road and the Central Business District, will have 435,000 square feet (sq ft) of Grade A office space. It will also house community-centric facilities, including a multi-purpose hall, which will take up 21,500 sq ft.
Highlighting mental wellness
In an exclusive interview with The Business Times, Alfred Yeung, general manager of Shaw Towers Realty, said the tie-up with NCSS aligns with Shaw Foundation's philanthropic efforts, with the dedicated spaces focusing on mental wellness.
'This is highly appropriate in this kind of commercial environment, with office workers in the neighbourhood. It will serve not only the building's users, but also (those) within the larger radius,' he added.
NCSS noted that Shaw Foundation first approached it in 2021 for the collaboration. NCSS then took the lead in turning the space into an integrated social services hub, which is 'a collaborative effort by the sector to create a seamless and comprehensive support system in caregivers' service journey', it said.
Besides Montfort Care, which serves vulnerable children, families and seniors, Shaw Tower will also house mental health charity Brahm Centre and Children-At-Risk-Empowerment Association, which helps at-risk youths. Montfort Care will take the lead in co-creating the one-stop support hub for caregivers.
'Beyond caregiver support, the hub will feature integrated mental health services and arts and heritage programmes, developed in collaboration with Shaw Foundation,' NCSS added.
This initiative is part of NCSS' plans to develop three themed social service hubs across Singapore, alongside JiaYou Centre at Chinatown Point and an upcoming site at City Square Mall.
New NGO
Yeung said that Shaw Foundation will be establishing its own NGO called Shaw – an acronym for 'Shaw, Heritage, Arts and Wellness' – to serve various beneficiary groups. However, it will focus on early childhood and new mothers.
The NGO will 'run and devise programmes linking arts, music and heritage with mental wellness', he said. Operations of the NGO will start in 2027 – six to nine months after Shaw Tower's redevelopment is completed.
Shaw Towers Realty sits under Shaw Foundation. Lendlease is the project and development manager in Shaw Tower's current phase, and will become the property manager at the operational phase.
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