SG Cares partners Singapore Nurses Association and Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore to boost skills-based volunteerism

1. To grow skills-based volunteerism in Singapore, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)’s Singapore Cares Office (SG Cares Office) has inked two new partnerships with the Singapore Nurses Association (SNA) and Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore (CSIS). Skills-based volunteerism refers to utilising one’s professional skills and expertise to serve the community.

2. The Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) signed between SG Cares and the two professional bodies respectively, will establish them as national-level intermediaries that encourage skills-based volunteerism in the nursing sectors, as well as in the chartered secretaries’ profession.

3. In growing regular and sustained skills-based volunteers and forging stakeholders’ partnerships, SG Cares Office, SNA and CSIS collectively seek to inculcate the values of care, consideration and contribution in their members. Through the network of SG Cares Volunteer Centres, the SG Cares Office will also work closely with the two organisations to grow skills-based volunteers and meet community needs.

4. CSIS will also work towards recognising their members’ skills-based volunteer hours as part of their qualifying Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours¹. This will encourage more professionals to give back to the non-profit sector with their expertise in the area of governance, compliance and performance management.

5. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong, witnessed the signing of the MOU today between Dr Ang Hak Seng, Deputy Secretary of MCCY, Ms Samantha Ong, President of SNA; and Mr Nathaniel C Vanniasingham, Chairman of CSIS.

6. Mr Tong said, “Skills-based volunteerism offers opportunities for professionals to not only contribute to a larger meaningful cause, but also hone their professional skills as it harnesses the talents and skills that one is proficient in. I am delighted to welcome SNA and CSIS onboard with us in our journey to nurture volunteerism among professionals and encourage them to make a difference in the community. We can achieve greater impact together through skills-based volunteerism and grow the spirit of SG Cares.”

7. Ms Samantha Ong, President of SNA remarked, “Volunteerism and sharing of our nursing expertise and skills with the community are key areas of the work of SNA and our members. We are proud to have our nurses, including retired nurses and nursing students, who will and have gone the distance to lend a helping hand and a listening ear to improve the physical and mental well-being of our community. SNA is proud and committed to be part of this national movement to inspire a more caring and inclusive Singapore. I look forward to our collaboration with the SG Cares Office and its network of partners.”

8. Mr Nathaniel C Vanniasingham, Chairman of CSIS said, “CSIS strongly supports the importance of volunteering as the benefits are huge - improved physical and mental health, making new friends, deeper self-confidence and a sense of purpose. It also demonstrates that our members can use their initiative, knowledge, experience and go the extra mile to improve the world for others. Furthermore, volunteering gives our members the opportunity to practice important common skills used in the workplace, such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, planning and organisation. We will work towards recognising skills-based volunteer work as qualifying CPD hours and as part of the CSIS professional qualification process.”

9. Dr Ang Hak Seng said, “The SG Cares movement is dedicated to supporting efforts in building a more caring and inclusive home for all. The skills that SNA and CSIS offer are crucial in meeting the needs - members of SNA can provide their highly in-demand nursing expertise to improve the physical and mental well-being of the community, and members of CSIS can help Non Profit Organisations increase trust with the public by improving their capabilities in governance and legal matters. We want to encourage more professionals to step forward, contribute your skills, and deepen our culture of care.”

10. SG Cares Office introduced skills-based volunteerism this year and to date has secured five partners, namely Law Society Pro Bono Services, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, Singapore Medical Association, Singapore Nurses Association and Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore.

About Singapore Nurses Association

11. Founded in July 1957, Singapore Nurses Association’s main objective is to work towards recognising and enhancing the professional contributions of Nurses. Its mission is to raise the profile of nursing in Singapore, facilitate and support the contributions of nurses to improve and enhance the health of the population.
    
    Find out more: https://www.sna.org.sg/

Strengthened protections for National Monuments

12. Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore (CSIS) is a non-profit professional institute promoting effective governance and administration of organisations in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. It sets the professional standards for Singapore Chartered Secretaries and governance professionals and provides training. Its members observe a code of professional conduct and ethics.

13. CSIS advocates timely compliance and good governance in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. It promotes good practices and provides thought leadership in governance areas.

14. Its membership comprises chartered secretaries, company secretaries, governance professionals and business executives in governance, ethics and compliance functions.

15. Members are typically responsible for supporting boards of directors and engaged in executive management on matters such as board practices, compliance, regulation and legal matters, shareholder relations and subsidiary management.
    
    Find out more: https://csis.org.sg/
    

About SG Cares

16. SG Cares is a national movement dedicated to building a more caring and inclusive home for all. The movement invites all who live in Singapore to put values into action through active volunteerism, ground-up efforts and everyday acts of care. It also aims to build capability across various sectors and organisations to grow opportunities for volunteering. By inspiring and supporting one another, we can show the world that we are a nation with a big heart.
    
    Find out more: https://go.gov.sg/sgcaresmovement

Issued by:
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth

¹Presently, CSIS members are required to fulfil 35 hours of CPD annually through attending training and courses to upskill and remain aligned with the fast changing landscape of practice and needs of the profession.