Official Launch of SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang

Operated by Care Community Services Society, SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang aims to bring together partners in Geylang Town to network, mobilise volunteers, and collaborate to meet community needs.

1. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)’s Singapore Cares Office (SG Cares Office) and Care Community Services Society (CCSS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to officiate Care Community Services Society (CCSS) as the SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang.
2. The MOU signing between Dr Ang Hak Seng, Deputy Secretary, MCCY and Mr Dewin Lee, Executive Director of CCSS, was witnessed by the following:
   • Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance
   • Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law,
   • Ms Tin Pei Ling, Member of Parliament for MacPherson SMC and Lead Adviser for the SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang 
   • Reverend Dominic Yeo, President of CCSS.
3. Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance, said: "To emerge stronger as a society, we must rally more Singaporeans to play a more active part in building our shared future. As we overcome the crisis and progress as a society, we must not leave anyone behind. This latest SG Cares Volunteer Centre will add to our efforts to galvanise communities to action. I hope that the measures that I announced at Budget 2021, to encourage giving and support for our social sector agencies, will bring even more people to donate and volunteer.
4. Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, said: “The pandemic has caused a severe impact on vulnerable segments of society. At the same time, there is a desire among Singaporeans to care for those who are disadvantaged. Since 2018, we have been establishing SG Cares Volunteer Centres in different towns to grow volunteerism and build partnerships within the community to meet local needs. Through this effort, we are forging a strong society to ensure that no one is left behind.”
5. Dr Ang Hak Seng said: “The SG Cares Office will support CCSS to collaborate with community partners and coordinate resources within Geylang Town. As the SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang, CCSS aims to grow the volunteer pool, build volunteer management capabilities of their partners, and foster sustained partnerships to meet community needs.”
6. With a well-established presence in Geylang Town, CCSS provides a wide range of services for the vulnerable, including children, youth, seniors, ex-offenders and adults with dementia. In addition, CCSS has been engaging community partners across various sectors to assess needs and broker partnerships. For example, CCSS recently partnered other community organisations to disburse Gojek vouchers under the SG Cares-Gojek Medical Transport Subsidy Scheme. This scheme subsidises travelling costs for low-income and frail residents in Geylang Town, so that they can continue with their medical treatments or appointments at hospitals, polyclinics or dialysis centres.
7. Rev. Dominic Yeo, President of CCSS, said “We are honoured to be appointed by SG Cares Office as the SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang. The unique identity of the town makes the work in that area both dynamic and exciting. As we embark on this journey, we hope to see a vibrant network of partnerships with various organisations coming together, actively engaged in matching the needs in the community with their unique strengths and influence. By strengthening the capabilities of community partners in Geylang Town, CCSS seeks to increase the quality of life, and make a lasting impact in individuals and families across all generations.”
8. Attending in the capacity as the Lead Adviser for the SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Member of Parliament for MacPherson SMC said: “As part of the SG Cares movement, the SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Geylang looks forward to working with community partners to identify key needs and strengthen the volunteerism and giving landscape in Geylang Town. Together we can achieve so much more and I encourage community partners to collaborate with CCSS to better support and care for our vulnerable residents in Geylang Town.”
   
   Annex – write-ups on SG Cares and Care Community Services Society

Issued by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Culture

For media queries, please contact:

Joyce Poon
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications Division
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Email: joyce_poon@mccy.gov.sg