Latest news with #NCSS
CNA
20 hours ago
- 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.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli speaking at the Social Service Summit on July 2. SINGAPORE - Social service agencies can now tap a new $7.5 million fund by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) to assess their programmes, refine services and better support clients. The SG60 Towards Sustainability Fund will provide a special one-off grant of $30,000 to eligible agencies. This move to strengthen the capabilities of agencies wil l help them attract sustained funding from donors, ensuring that their programmes can continue to thrive, said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli on July 2. He was speaking at the Social Service Summit held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre. About 2,000 industry professionals and foreign delegates attended the two-day event. Social service agencies which are NCSS members can apply for the new fund. Mr Masagos laid out three moves to bring the social service sector forward: tapping technology for greater impact, developing social service agencies' capabilities and uplifting professionals in the sector. He said the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is implementing various digital tools to support the social services sector. It will roll out a new system for the sector, CaseCentral, which uses artificial intelligence to streamline case management processes, automate workflows and provide insights on clients and their families. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Developed by Open Government Products, the tool was made available to eligible social service agencies in January. In his speech, Mr Masagos also touched on the benefits and risks of technology advancements. This includes its potential to connect people, but also lead to increased social isolation, as well as the impact of social media on mental health, especially among the young. And while technology greatly facilitates the sharing of information, poor cybersecurity can lead to data leaks and misuse, he said. 'These are just some of the very real issues that face our society and our clients. As part of the social service sector, we must become familiar with them,' he said. He said social service agencies can reach more people with their services with the prevalence of AI chatbots, virtual assistants, and remote services such as online counselling. 'Ultimately though, we are a sector built on heart and soul,' he said. 'Our use of data, technology and AI can allow us to provide more personalised and targeted care. But the human touch and empathy with which we deliver our services can and must be evident even as we leverage technology for service delivery.' Ms Petrina Tan, head of corporate communications and partnership at Care Corner Singapore, said the new fund would help the agency to measure 'meaningful progress' for initiatives where impact can only be seen over a long time, to know a programme is on track. 'It's important for us to understand early on whether the programme design needs any adjustments, so we can stay responsive and ensure it delivers the best outcomes,' she said. At Care Corner Singapore, over 100 of its social workers have used Scribe, in counselling and casework sessions with clients - which include low-income parents, seniors and couples going through divorce - since January. This has cut down the time taken for them to prepare case notes from one hour to 30 minutes, said Ms Gina Lin, design lead in Care Corner's Innovation Squad. Previously, social workers took notes on paper during the sessions or relied on their memory to put reports together. 'Now that the worker doesn't have to write notes to remember or just try to recall what the client has said, it has allowed them to be a lot more present and just to focus on the client during the session,' she said. To support their digitalisation efforts, agencies can also tap NCSS' Transformation Sustainability Scheme, which provides funding for human resource functions and talent attraction, among other aspects . Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli touring the exhibition at the Social Service Summit 2025 on July 2. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI To recognise the more than 20,000 professionals in the social service sector, MSF has also designated this SG60 year as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals, said Mr Masagos. 'This year, we have publicised the meaningful work of social service professionals on various channels, to raise awareness of the different roles in the sector and inspire greater appreciation for their many contributions.' The inaugural Social Service Professional Awards will also be presented on July 2 to honour the work of professionals from social work to therapy and corporate services, he said. Salary ranges for the sector are also constantly reviewed to ensure it continues to draw talent, he said, adding that about 80 per cent of employees in the social service sector are paid according to the guidelines.
Business Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Community Chest has had to evolve to meet society's increasingly complex needs: Chew Sutat
[SINGAPORE] More companies, family offices and individuals now have clear ideas about the causes they want to support, so the business of giving has become democratised, said Community Chest chairman Chew Sutat. But this 'democratising' may not lead to the best outcomes for all the causes out there that need help, added the 52-year-old, who formerly held senior executive roles at the Singapore Exchange. This is because donors also have their own views on which causes or agencies to support and why, and how to go about giving that aid. To meet such changes and society's increasingly complex needs, Community Chest has had to evolve, he said. The organisation was set up in 1983 as a centralised fundraising body for Singapore's social service agencies, and is the philanthropic and engagement arm of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Chew drew a contrast between the situation in the Republic and the far-larger philanthropic market in the US, where 'anybody who has a lot of wealth can set up a foundation'. There, the wealthy philanthropists are the ones who influence the direction society takes in terms of which causes to support. Inevitably, funding gaps arise because of the lack of centralised information and government organisation. Over here, the Community Chest on its own cannot support all needs, Chew said. What it can do, however, is 'provide and channel the resources to where the greater needs are because we have the data… We can provide the resources to build the capabilities of organisations'. 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 And companies have gone beyond holding charity events and writing cheques to their chosen causes – they now want to give back in more sustainable ways. 'Therefore, we are transitioning our own model at Community Chest, from just fundraising to adopting a long-term resourcing approach for the sector,' Chew said. More complex innovation, change and transformative solutions are needed in philanthropy now, he added. Programmes such as the 4ST Partnership Fund have sprung up, pooling resources from various sources to enable contributions to larger projects. For Chew, collaboration between the public, private and people sectors is key. This is so the Community Chest can complement the NCSS as a developer of the social service sector. He added that the various organisations in the social services ecosystem work together under the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework, which was launched in 2024 to help companies measure, monitor and benchmark their efforts in three areas: giving, volunteering, and socially responsible business practices. Chew Sutat, chairman of Community Chest, says: 'If we ever go down that path where we depend on the government for everything, we must expect taxes to go up. That would affect us as a society in terms of having a sustainable, healthy economy in the long term.' PHOTO: COMMUNITY CHEST NCSS developed the framework in partnership with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the SG Cares Office. Chew said there is no need to worry about an overlap between these agencies because 'it is really whole-of-government'. 'This framework creates not just a common language, but also a platform to channel corporate resources to create this innovative transformation mentioned earlier,' he added. 'Doing good is good business' Community Chest's annual report shows companies how their donations were used and the impact they made. Chew urged organisations to consider institutionalising the practice of giving back to society, as 'you cannot be certain about the business cycle – whether you are going to be profitable or not – and you do not want to have an argument about the CSR (corporate social responsibility) budget every year'. Although many social service programmes are funded mainly by the government, budgets are still limited, so people, private and public collaborations remain important, he added. 'If we ever go down that path where we depend on the government for everything, we must expect taxes to go up,' he said. 'That would affect us as a society in terms of having a sustainable, healthy economy in the long term.' He cited how the private sector does its part for those with special needs. For such children, schools can provide them with support for the 10 to 12 years they are in education – but their paths often become uncertain once they become adults. Companies such as UOB have stepped up and changed their work arrangements to enable the hiring of these individuals. By working with such partners, Community Chest has moved beyond fundraising to developing transformative programmes that require innovation and multiyear experimentation. Chew said: 'The Sustainable Philanthropy Framework is therefore essential in that we have a corporate language and platform to guide those who are already established in giving, and bring in new partners who say: 'I do not have the resources of the top 10 STI (Straits Times Index) companies, but I can help in areas such as talent and digitalisation.'' Ultimately, it is about 'working collectively and collaboratively to make this society a better space, and doing good is good business', he said.
Business Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Chew Sutat on Community Chest evolving with the business of giving back
[SINGAPORE] More companies, family offices and individuals now have clear ideas about the causes they want to support, so the business of giving has become democratised, said Community Chest chairman Chew Sutat. But this 'democratising' may not lead to the best outcomes for all the causes out there that need help, added the 52-year-old, who formerly held senior executive roles at the Singapore Exchange. This is because donors also have their own views on which causes or agencies to support and why, and how to go about giving that aid. To meet such changes and society's increasingly complex needs, Community Chest has had to evolve, he said. The organisation was set up in 1983 as a centralised fundraising body for Singapore's social service agencies, and is the philanthropic and engagement arm of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Chew drew a contrast between the situation in the Republic and the far-larger philanthropic market in the US, where 'anybody who has a lot of wealth can set up a foundation'. There, the wealthy philanthropists are the ones who influence the direction society takes in terms of which causes to support. Inevitably, funding gaps arise because of the lack of centralised information and government organisation. Over here, the Community Chest on its own cannot support all needs, Chew said. What it can do, however, is 'provide and channel the resources to where the greater needs are because we have the data… We can provide the resources to build the capabilities of organisations'. 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 And companies have gone beyond holding charity events and writing cheques to their chosen causes – they now want to give back in more sustainable ways. 'Therefore, we are transitioning our own model at Community Chest, from just fundraising to adopting a long-term resourcing approach for the sector,' Chew said. More complex innovation, change and transformative solutions are needed in philanthropy now, he added. Programmes such as the 4ST Partnership Fund have sprung up, pooling resources from various sources to enable contributions to larger projects. For Chew, collaboration between the public, private and people sectors is key. This is so the Community Chest can complement the NCSS as a developer of the social service sector. He added that the various organisations in the social services ecosystem work together under the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework, which was launched in 2024 to help companies measure, monitor and benchmark their efforts in three areas: giving, volunteering, and socially responsible business practices. Chew Sutat, chairman of Community Chest, says: 'If we ever go down that path where we depend on the government for everything, we must expect taxes to go up. That would affect us as a society in terms of having a sustainable, healthy economy in the long term.' PHOTO: COMMUNITY CHEST NCSS developed the framework in partnership with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the SG Cares Office. Chew said there is no need to worry about an overlap between these agencies because 'it is really whole-of-government'. 'This framework creates not just a common language, but also a platform to channel corporate resources to create this innovative transformation mentioned earlier,' he added. 'Doing good is good business' Community Chest's annual report shows companies how their donations were used and the impact they made. Chew urged organisations to consider institutionalising the practice of giving back to society, as 'you cannot be certain about the business cycle – whether you are going to be profitable or not – and you do not want to have an argument about the CSR (corporate social responsibility) budget every year'. Although many social service programmes are funded mainly by the government, budgets are still limited, so people, private and public collaborations remain important, he added. 'If we ever go down that path where we depend on the government for everything, we must expect taxes to go up,' he said. 'That would affect us as a society in terms of having a sustainable, healthy economy in the long term.' He cited how the private sector does its part for those with special needs. For such children, schools can provide them with support for the 10 to 12 years they are in education – but their paths often become uncertain once they become adults. Companies such as UOB have stepped up and changed their work arrangements to enable the hiring of these individuals. By working with such partners, Community Chest has moved beyond fundraising to developing transformative programmes that require innovation and multiyear experimentation. Chew said: 'The Sustainable Philanthropy Framework is therefore essential in that we have a corporate language and platform to guide those who are already established in giving, and bring in new partners who say: 'I do not have the resources of the top 10 STI (Straits Times Index) companies, but I can help in areas such as talent and digitalisation.'' Ultimately, it is about 'working collectively and collaboratively to make this society a better space, and doing good is good business', he said.
