NCSS Singapore

The NCSS Volunteer Management Leadership Series (VMLS) is a series of engagement sessions curated for board members and senior management from Social Service Agencies (SSAs). These sessions aim to enhance and strengthen volunteer management (VM) capabilities within their organisations to yield stronger volunteerism outcomes.

Here are some key takeaways from our latest VMLS session themed “Future-Ready Sector: Strengthening Organisations Through Volunteers” :

⬆️ Boards and senior management need to prioritise the advancing of VM capabilities, with volunteer strategy as part of organisational strategic plan.
🔍 SSAs need to integrate volunteers with service models to play larger roles, augmenting manpower and thereby resulting in stronger service outcomes.
🌟 Volunteers are not “hands and legs” but an integral part of the organisation, forging meaningful interaction with service users and expanding capacity for SSAs to do more strategic and upstream intervention work.
🤝 Volunteer partnerships with corporates anchored on aligned goals and shared values result in stronger and more sustained services, resulting in greater social impact to be achieved.

Dive deeper into the insights with our graphic recording at: https://go.gov.sg/ncss-vmls6

A big thank you to Dr Kenny Tan, CEO of St Luke's ElderCare; Mr Nicholas Goh, Chairman of Life Community Services Society; Mdm Hazlina Abd Halim, President of PPIS Singapore Muslim Women's Assn and CEO of Make-A-Wish Singapore; and Mr Martin Tan, NCSS Board Member, for the insightful and engaging panel discussion!

These discussions pave the way for future-ready approaches in volunteer management, leading to sustained volunteerism. 🚀 Let’s continue to empower volunteers and drive positive change together!

To overcome an issue, you first need to understand it fully. As the needs of our service users evolve, we must stay up-to-date on how we can connect and engage with them, too! 🤝

Empower yourself with these Cross Sector Courses from the Social Service Institute:

🔹 Identify Learning Needs for Personal and Professional Development https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SST0929
Register by 3 Oct 2024

🔹 Promote Diversity and Inclusion in Social Work
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0102
Register by 21 Oct 2024

🔹 May I Help You? (Boleh Saya Bantu Anda?) - Conversational Malay for Social Service Practitioners
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SCRS5647
Register by 30 Oct 2024

Sign up for Cross Sector Training Courses here: https://www.ssi.gov.sg/training/cross-sector/

Studies have shown that 53% of SSAs agreed that their agency has leveraged skills-based volunteers to support their organisational functions.*

Empower your volunteers and optimise their capabilities with these Volunteer Management & Development Courses from Social Service Institute:

🔹 Design & Develop: Crafting Volunteers Roles for Maximum Impact
Improve organisational impact and volunteer satisfaction by designing meaningful and well-structured volunteer roles for more effective and sustainable programmes.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0134
Register by 17 Oct 2024

🔹 Volunteer Management 101
Gain a comprehensive overview of volunteer management and the knowledge and skills necessary to manage volunteers within social service agencies effectively.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0125
Registration is open throughout the year
Sign up for Volunteer Management & Development Training Courses here: https://www.ssi.gov.sg/training/volunteer-development-and-management/

*Source: Findings from the NCSS Social Service Sector Survey on Volunteer Management 2021

Is your company looking to kickstart an impactful corporate volunteering journey? 🌱

With the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and SG Cares Office in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), NCSS commissioned Project V, a pilot programme to design and prototype a sustained and scalable corporate volunteerism model. By connecting corporates with meaningful volunteering opportunities 🤝💼, Project V aims to promote regular volunteering at scale within corporates, enhance the volunteer experience, and forge longer-term volunteer partnerships with social service agencies (SSAs).

During the six-month pilot, Project V saw over 6,000 hours of volunteering contributed by nearly 2,000 volunteers across 17 SSAs and SG Cares Volunteer Centres. The pilot demonstrated that businesses and SSAs can align their interests and leverage their respective strengths to make a meaningful and positive impact on our wider community through regular and sustained volunteerism.

📊 Check out the insights and explore case studies in our Project V 2023 Pilot Insights Report: https://go.gov.sg/projectvpilot2023

Handling difficult situations can often require a particular set of skills to improve others' circumstances. 🙌

Improve your knowledge in assisting others with these Mental Health Courses from the Social Service Institute:

🔹 Managing Su***de Crisis Over Phone (TGS-2023019647)
Be equipped with the requisite skills to provide emotional support and engage in su***de conversations on a helpline or over the phone.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0029
Register by 20 Aug 2024

🔹 Su***de Intervention Skills Workshop (TGS-2023019201)
Acquire critical competencies to handle su***de crises ethically and professionally and gain up-to-date knowledge and skills contextualised for local applications.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0109
Register by 29 Aug 2024

Sign up for Mental Health Training Courses here:
https://www.ssi.gov.sg/training/mental-health/

🎉 We are incredibly proud of our NCSS Senior Management, Advisors, Board Members and Committee members who have been honoured with the National Day Awards 2024!

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to our NCSS colleagues who have received commendations and long service awards.

Your unwavering dedication to public service has made Singapore a better place for everyone. 🇸🇬✨

As a sector developer, NCSS is committed to promoting sustained volunteerism and enhancing volunteer management capabilities within the Social Service Sector. 🚀

Through the NCSS Volunteer Management Capability Development Consultancy Project, we have journeyed with social service agencies (SSAs) like , to strengthen their volunteer management practices and to craft new volunteer leadership roles.

For insights on developing enhanced volunteer roles and crafting volunteer development pathways, check out our Volunteer Development Guide here: https://go.gov.sg/ncss-vdg

Together, let's continue to foster sustained volunteerism for the betterment of our community. 💪✨

As a sector developer, NCSS, through SSI, serves as the convenor of Social Learning, providing a platform for social service professionals (SSPs) and social service agencies (SSAs) to exchange knowledge and foster a skilled workforce.

We are thrilled to share the enriching experience of the Skills For Good Festival 2024 x NCSS Capability Circles at McDonald's on 26 July 2024, organised by the Social Service Institute (SSI), the capability and transformation arm of NCSS.

At this event, adult educators and social service professionals explored McDonald's operations, gaining insights into their technology use for customer satisfaction, training, skill development, and career paths. 👩‍🏫 This immersive experience addressed critical core skills in the skills framework.

🙏 Our heartfelt thanks to McDonald's and CS-CDC for their invaluable support in making this Learning Journey possible!

Our NCSS President, Ms Anita Fam, recently shared her thoughts in an opinion editorial with Tatler Asia, emphasising the need to rethink traditional approaches to philanthropy. She noted, 💭 "Most high net worth individuals exercise what I call 'chequebook philanthropy': someone asks you for a donation, you write a cheque, and you donate. It doesn't go beyond that. While it is doing good, it's also sporadic and not planned." ​
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As our world evolves, philanthropy must adapt to address new challenges and seize emerging opportunities. 🌱 Ms Fam's insights highlight how a more thoughtful approach to giving can drive meaningful change in today's dynamic landscape. ​
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💡Discover how to take the first step towards creating a better future with the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework: https://www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/sustainable-philanthropy-framework​
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Read the full opinion editorial here: https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/philanthropy/anita-fam-giving-philanthropy-needs-to-evolve
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Empowering families to overcome unique situations often require a delicate touch. ✨💖

Enhance your understanding and make a difference through Social Service Institute’s Children, Youth and Family Training Courses:

🔹 Helping Family Members Cope with Issues Arising from Incarceration of a Loved One (TGS-2020500637)
Learn intervention techniques and how to apply them when engaging with the family.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SCYF5802
Register by 3 Sep 2024

🔹 An Introduction to Family Therapy (TGS-2023019201)
Identify the goals of counselling by using the models of Family Therapy, and how to apply them in assessment and intervention.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SCYF5646
Register by 9 Oct 2024

🔹 Counselling Guidelines Training: Working with Youth with Sexual Orientation and Gender Issues
Understand the issues and how to support youths and their families.
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0126
Register by 14 Oct 2024

Sign up for Children, Youth and Family Training Courses here: https://www.ssi.gov.sg/training/cyandf/

Happy 59th Birthday, Singapore! 🇸🇬

Every year, NCSS celebrates together at our annual National Day Observance Ceremony. This year, we bonded and celebrated at the Singapore Sports Hub. 🏟️ From team sports to engaging activities, this event truly reflected the bond and engagement among our NCSS team. A special shoutout to our BOND team for organising such a memorable day! 🎉👏

Interested to be part of our team? Discover a career at NCSS: career@ncss" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.ncss.gov.sg/who-we-are/career@ncss

At NCSS, we are committed to empowering our employees and fostering talent development. Recently, we hosted the NCSS Competency-Driven Growth and Career Roadshow, where our colleagues explored the Competency-Driven Growth toolkit and discovered exciting job opportunities within NCSS. The event featured insightful presentations from various divisions, followed by a Q&A and networking session. 💼✨

NCSS is dedicated to engaging employees through events like this, recognising that their involvement is crucial to fostering talent development and career growth.

Discover more about a career at NCSS: career@ncss" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.ncss.gov.sg/who-we-are/career@ncss

NCSS is happy to be part of the Volunteer Festival, organised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, as part of the Year of Celebrating Volunteers 2024 (YCVolunteers). We are beyond grateful to everyone who joined us across the 4 weekends in July, which concluded with resounding success and strong community participation! 🎉🙌

Volunteers play a critical role in social service agencies (SSAs) by contributing their time, talent, and skills, and increasing capacity to achieve better outcomes for those we serve. Volunteering enriches not only the service users but also the volunteers, improving their self-confidence and well-being, fostering social connections, and developing skills and leadership abilities.

During the Volunteer Festival, we curated learning journeys to SSAs to raise awareness of how volunteers can meet community needs. Volunteers also shared their personal journeys at Human Library Stories. Through these interactive programmes, we hope to spark interest and highlight the importance of sustained volunteerism in our society. Special thanks to all Volunteer Managers who were heart-at-work at the Volunteer Festival, rallying the community to volunteer! Because of your efforts, we can recruit, engage, develop, and retain volunteers better, strengthening and sustaining our social service sector. 😊💪

Together, let's keep the spirit of volunteerism strong and build a better, brighter future for all. After all, to make lives count! 💖🌏

Interested to pursue a career as a Volunteer Manager? Find out more at https://go.gov.sg/ycv1

The Social Service Institute offers the Higher Diploma in Social Service (HDSS) programme for new and current professionals who want to become Social Work Associates. The programme equips students with essential skills in human behaviour, psychology, sociology, and more.

The HDSS serves as a stepping stone to the Bachelor in Social Work program at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) for individuals seeking to advance their education and pursue a career as a Social Worker.

Find out more at our HDSS Course Preview:
📅 Date: 6 August 2024
🕔 Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
📍 Venue: SSI Auditorium (Level 18), Tiong Bahru Plaza

Secure your Course Preview Session spot now: https://go.gov.sg/ssi-preview-registration

For more details about the HDSS course, check out the link below:

https://www.ssi.gov.sg/training/cet-programmes/higher-diploma-in-social-service/

NCSS has launched our new branded seminar series, Insights to Impact (i2i), as a key engagement platform for the sector on how research and practice inform one another. 📊

On 23 July 2024, we hosted the inaugural i2i seminar, bringing together over 450 participants from Social Service Agencies (SSAs), funders, and Government agencies to discuss adopting evidence-based practices across the sector.

Our keynote speaker and close partner in developing our Sector Evaluation Framework (SEF), Professor Martin Knapp, CBE shared insights on programme evaluation and the “What Works” approach in the UK – highlighting how high-quality evidence informs decision-making for more effective services in the social service sector.

We also heard valuable perspectives from different stakeholders on how research and evaluation can benefit the sector, ensuring a better quality of life for our service users:
• Funder’s perspective by Tote Board represented by Ms Tan Su-Yin, Senior Director of Grants and Ms Amy Lim, Director of Impact & Evaluation
• SSA’s perspective by SHINE Children and Youth Services represented by Ms Jenna Luen, Director of School Social Work Service

📢 Announcement of NCSS’ Centre for Evidence (CfE)
The CfE fulfils NCSS’ role as a sector developer by providing sector-level programme benchmarks, informing the sector of emerging population trends and needs, and empowering SSAs through building research and evaluation capabilities. Find out how you can contribute to the CfE’s sector evaluation efforts by contacting us at [email protected] today!

We are pleased to announce the key appointment holders to the Board of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Appointments by Minister Mr Masagos Zulkifli, along with other Board members elected at the NCSS Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17 July 2024 or appointed by the Board President, will serve a two-year term from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2026.

Please join us in welcoming our Board members. Together, we are committed to strengthening NCSS’ role as Sector Developer and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can live with dignity and reach their fullest potential. 🚀

Our NCSS President, Ms Anita Fam, recently presented the 🎖️ 4ST Champion certificate to Mr John Ang, President, and Mr Arthur Ling, Chief Executive of Fei Yue Community Services, recognising their organisation's efforts to empower individuals, families, and communities; foster strategic partnerships for greater impact; and develop quality, innovative, and sustainable solutions, which aligns with the NCSS Social Service Sector Strategic Roadmap (4ST).

Forming strong partnerships within the community is a key focus for Fei Yue. 🤝💼 With programmes ranging from counselling and family life education to services for youths, the elderly, inmates, and their families, partnerships are critical to the effectiveness of the agency’s work.

One notable example is their Hidden Youth Outreach Service (HYOS) initiative, created in partnership with REACH (Response, Early intervention and Assessment in Community mental Health), a mental healthcare service by the Institute of Mental Health. Through this programme, Fei Yue provides comprehensive case management, referrals, and support to socially withdrawn youths, helping them reintegrate into society. In just the first year of implementation, 83% of youths in the final stage of intervention showed improvement 📈, such as being able to leave their homes or stay in contact with family members. The programme currently serves 51 youths, with 8 successfully reintegrated into schools or jobs.

🌟 Feeling inspired by Fei Yue’s efforts? Find out how your social service agency can play a part: https://go.gov.sg/4ST.

How can businesses practise corporate social responsibility more systematically and make a bigger impact? 🤔

Minister Masagos Zulkifli shared at the Singapore Apex Business Summit yesterday, 💬 “Businesses that address societal challenges could potentially gain a competitive advantage as customers, employees, and investors increasingly value companies that champion sustainability and social causes.”

NCSS was excited to launch our Sustainable Philanthropy Framework at the event! Here are some key highlights of the framework:

🔍 The framework guides businesses in directing their giving and volunteering efforts, making inclusive business decisions that create more substantial social outcomes. By aligning philanthropic efforts with corporate purpose, companies can simultaneously Do Good and Do Well.

📊 The metrics in the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework provide a systematic way to measure the ‘Social’ component of their Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) sustainability goals.

📖 The playbook helps all businesses, regardless of where they are on their philanthropic journey, to start or deepen their efforts to create positive outcomes in the community.

🔗 Find out how you can join us in driving sustainable change at: https://www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/sustainable-philanthropy-framework

NCSS has launched the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework 🌟, designed to help businesses enhance their brand value and adopt a more sustained and longer-term approach to resourcing the sector and giving back to the community. This framework offers businesses a robust mechanism to measure the outcomes of their philanthropic practices and articulates the ‘Social’ component of their Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Goals.

The Framework was initiated by NCSS and developed in partnership with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC - Towards a City of Good), in collaboration with the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (RAISE SG), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF Singapore), and the SG Cares Office. 🤝💼

Join us in driving sustainable change to uplift lives! More details available at: https://www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/sustainable-philanthropy-framework

Volunteering plays a large role in the strengthening of social service work. Contribute your power to creating an uplifting community. 📈
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Equip yourself with amplified skills and knowledge through SSI’s Volunteer Management & Development Courses:
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🔷 Volunteer Management Practices: Connect, Engage, Develop​
Register by 25 Jul 2024 ​
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SVLD313 ​
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Complimentary e-learning:​
🔷 Volunteer Management 101 ​
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0125 ​
🔷 Befriending 101 for Volunteers ​
https://iltms.ssi.gov.sg/registration/schedule?coursecode=SSI0035 ​
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To sign up for Volunteer Management & Development Courses, click here: https://www.ssi.gov.sg/training/volunteer-development-and-management/ ​
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Since 1988, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has been steadfast in its support of Community Chest Singapore, as it aims to create lasting influence on communities. 🫡 Through fostering a culture of sustained giving and volunteerism alongside social service agencies, SPF has positively impacted individuals and families for 36 years and counting.

SPF’s active partnerships and initiatives are in line with the sector's shared vision of a society where "every person is empowered to live with dignity in a caring and inclusive society". This commitment embodies the essence of the Social Service Sector Strategic Roadmap (4ST), previously known as Social Service Sector Strategic Thrusts, which focuses on empowering individuals to create an inclusive society, and creating a collaborative and impactful social service ecosystem.🌟

If you are a social purpose entity seeking to make a meaningful difference in the community, we invite you to explore our 4ST Playbook. It offers actionable steps, frameworks, and resources to support your journey towards creating a positive impact.💪🏼
https://www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/social-service-sector-strategic-thrusts-(4st)

Yesterday at the NCSS Social Service Connect 2024, our President, Ms Anita Fam, and CEO, Ms Tan Li-San, shared updates on key highlights for NCSS over the past year and what lies ahead. Reflecting on our journey and looking forward, Ms Anita Fam shared her vision:

“NCSS has been the change-maker for the social service sector through the years and will continue to do so. However, as we face increasingly complex societal issues, it is timely and necessary to re-examine this scope of work, think beyond our membership, which already covers more than 80% of all SSAs, and adopt a broader ecosystem lens to serve the needs of our communities more effectively as a sector developer.” 💬

Here are some key takeaways from the event:

Our Evolution to Sector Developer 🚀
At NCSS, we will look beyond our role as a membership body to take on a broader ecosystem lens to better meeting the changing needs of our service users. As a sector developer, our journey will include:
• Forging closer partnerships among ecosystem players to enhance service delivery and optimise resource allocation.
• Holistically strengthening Social Service Agencies (SSAs) through capability building.
• Cultivating a robust ecosystem supported by sustainable philanthropy.

Even as we embrace the future, we honour the contributions of those who came before us. Through our Oral History initiative, we will document insights from sector pioneers so that we continue to learn from them and be guided by their valuable perspectives and knowledge.

🔗 Learn more about our Oral History Collection and find out how you can contribute: https://www.ncss.gov.sg/press-room/oral-history-in-social-service-sector

Our Refreshed Brand 🌟🎨
The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has been leading the way in driving change and progress in the social service sector. In recent years, NCSS has expanded its role to identify gaps, fund critical services, invest in developing capabilities of SSAs and sector professionals, and mobilise community and corporate resources to support the sector.

Join us in driving positive change and creating a resilient, inclusive society. Dive into our initiatives and be part of this transformative journey at www.ncss.gov.sg.

Caregiving brings fulfilment, but also comes with responsibilities. At NCSS, we recognise the importance of providing caregivers with a supportive environment.🌱🌟

Drawing from insights gained through the Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Caregivers Network pilot programme, a collaboration between NCSS, People's Association (PA) and Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL) in 2022, we've crafted the Strengthening Caregiver Communities playbook.

This playbook aims to equip social service agencies and community leaders with essential insights and recommendations for building strong support networks for caregivers of persons with mental health conditions in their community. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Explore and download our playbook today:https://www.ncss.gov.sg/docs/default-source/ncss-publications-doc/playbook/strengthening-caregiver-communities-playbook.pdf