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Business Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
SP Group launches initiatives to help seniors and young at inaugural Community Festival
[SINGAPORE] Around 40 senior beneficiaries from Allkin Singapore enjoyed a tour of the Merlion Park, Marina Bay and Singapore Flyer on Wednesday (Jun 4) at the launch excursion of SG60 Journeys from the Heart, SP Group's new initiative. They were accompanied by SP employee volunteers as they took in views of the city's skyline and iconic landmarks. The initiative offers customised itineraries for 600 seniors, youth and children and their families. SP added that the excursions are aligned with its focus on sustainability, as an electric bus will be used to convey the beneficiaries to the places of interest. These day trips will take place from June to August. Jocelyn Toh, head of senior service at Allkin Singapore, said: 'Excursions like these allow the individuals and families we serve – many of whom are from lower-income backgrounds – to explore Singapore with renewed wonder, meet new friends and create shared memories they might not otherwise get a chance to experience.' Likewise, Amelia Shepherdson, 72, and Alison Chan, 68, Allkin beneficiaries who went on Wednesday's excursion, said such events give them a chance to socialise with people in their age group, which is beneficial because they can relate to each other's problems. This is in contrast to family members, who may not understand the struggles they are going through. 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 SG60 Journeys from the Heart is one of the three initiatives announced by the national grid and energy solutions operator on Wednesday, at its inaugural Community Festival where it also celebrated its 30th anniversary and Singapore's 60th year of independence. At the festival, various social service agencies who are SP beneficiaries set up booths so that the group's staff could find out more about their causes. Some employees also shared about their volunteering experiences. SP Heartware Fund and Power Packs To commemorate its anniversary, SP is enhancing its donation-matching initiative for the SP Heartware Fund, which was launched in 2005 in partnership with Community Chest. It supports nearly 100 critical social service programmes to help vulnerable communities. Until Dec 31, SP will match staff donations by three times – instead of the usual one-to-one ratio – up to a total of S$1 million. As part of the SGShare campaign to commemorate SG60, all donations to the fund will also be matched dollar-for-dollar under the SG Gives matching grant, which was announced during Budget 2025. For every dollar that an employee donates, S$8 will thus go towards helping recipients of the programmes. To date, the fund has raised more than S$30 million. Stanley Huang, group chief executive of SP, said: '(To amplify the) fundraising efforts for the SP Heartware Fund, SP provides platforms for its customers and business partners to make donations through the SP app and (runs) donation appeals via the monthly utilities bills.' From Wednesday, SP will also be distributing care packs worth S$300,000 to 10,000 lower-income households throughout the year under its SP Power Packs initiative. 'The packs are now tailored for each age group, providing daily essentials to reduce household expenses, especially amid rising costs,' Huang added. For example, seniors will receive items such as cereal and rice; youth will receive energy drinks and refreshments; and children will receive stationery items and learning tools. Mohamed Fareez, CEO of Allkin Singapore, said Singapore's ageing population, rising mental health concerns and higher cost of living make such initiatives – especially by corporates – essential to improve well-being. 'We are looking at ways to bridge the gap and provide resources to allow and increase the possibility of social mobility as well,' he added. SP Group has been a partner of Allkin Singapore since 2017 and has conducted various long-term initiatives such as reading programmes for children, befriending activities and helping seniors with errands.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Community care must be central to our mental health strategy
W e appreciate the article, 'Community care: How one man managed his agoraphobia without hospital treatment' (The Sunday Times, May 25). It illustrates the transformative potential of community-based mental health support in enabling individuals to recover meaningfully and restore agency over their lives. At Allkin Singapore, we see this daily in our work. Community-based support reduces stigma, closes accessibility gaps, and reminds us that individuals are not problems to be fixed, but people with stories to be heard and strengths to be rekindled. For individuals grappling with anxiety, depression, trauma or social isolation, healing is often rooted in connection and continuity, and not in clinical interventions alone. We have witnessed how relational safety – being seen, heard and supported in everyday settings – can lay the foundation for long-term recovery. A senior struggling with anxiety may benefit from structured activities like simple breathing techniques and regular check-ins from trained neighbours without having to step into a clinic. A school-refusing youth might first find a listening ear in a youth worker at a drop-in centre before seeking professional counselling. Such human encounters are often the first step towards hope and recovery. As Singapore advances its Healthier SG vision and efforts in population mental health, we echo the call for a more distributed, people-centred care model: one where every family and community member can be part of the mental wellness ecosystem. Low Mun Heng Principal Social Worker and Head of Mental Health Service Allkin Singapore More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
