6 days ago
Salvation Army raises S$450,000 for key programmes; launches initiative to support caregivers
[SINGAPORE] The Salvation Army Singapore has raised more than S$450,000 from the 29th edition of its Red Shield Appeal event this year, which took place at Goodwood Park Hotel on Friday (Jul 25). It also announced the launch of 'It Takes A Village', a new initiative developed with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).
The S$450,000 raised is in addition to S$6 million donated by legacy donors. The funds will support Salvation Army's key programmes across 14 centres islandwide.
Tan Bee Yit, regional officer of Salvation Army for the Singapore region, said: 'Our work ranges from long-term residential and medical care for the elderly (to) family-based programmes supporting incarcerated parents and their children.'
In 2024, more than 25,000 individuals and families benefited from the charity's programmes. Salvation Army will continue strengthening its core programmes and ensure they remain 'inclusive and effective', Tan said.
Supporting caregivers
On Friday, Salvation Army also launched the 'It Takes A Village' initiative, supported by AIC. This follows a pilot, launched in 2024, focusing on expanding outreach and establishing partnerships and builds on Peacehaven's services. To date, more than 17,500 caregivers have been engaged through the initiative.
'As caregiving becomes increasingly pressing in our ageing society, it is important to build a strong peer support network for our caregivers too, providing accessible training and practical resources to ease their caregiving journey,' Tan added.
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Teo Shiyi, executive director of Peacehaven, noted that one-quarter of Singapore residents will be aged 65 or older by 2030, and family sizes are getting smaller.
'The emotional, social and sometimes physical demands placed on the primary caregiver can be immense. With smaller family sizes, this primary caregiver may have nobody else to help share the burden – for advice, for emotional support, for respite,' he said.
'It Takes A Village' aims to benefit informal caregivers – such as family members and migrant domestic workers – and will revolve around three core pillars: caregiver empowerment, emotional and peer support, and community connection.
Besides offering training to help caregivers manage day-to-day care responsibilities, the initiative will provide a support network and connect them to relevant services.
Dr Katie Avery, education director at Peacehaven, said: 'Ultimately, 'It Takes A Village' seeks to uplift the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients by fostering resilience, connection and dignity through community.'
The initiative will bring caregiving out of clinical settings and into more everyday environments and promotes care in home and community settings.
More than 10 organisations have joined the initiative.
Founding member Fortuna Tan, who was a caregiver to her late mother-in-law, emphasised the importance of such support groups as demand for eldercare outpaces the level of informal and community support available.
'This network fills a much-needed gap in psychosocial and peer support, offering a space where caregivers can share experiences and tips, while finding respite and meeting others in similar situations,' she said.
