New charity Yellow Ribbon Cares commits S$5 million to programmes for ex-offenders
The entity streamlines three organisations’ programmes and operations
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[SINGAPORE] Three organisations supporting ex-offenders – Yellow Ribbon Fund, Iscos (Industrial & Services Co-operative Society) and NeuGen Fund – have consolidated into a new entity called Yellow Ribbon Cares (YR Cares).
YR Cares will commit S$5 million in total direct programme-related costs for FY2026, up from S$4 million previously.
Operational since April, the charity – which has Institution of a Public Character status – will streamline the organisations’ programmes and operations, and continue to support ex-offenders in their reintegration journey.
Edmund Cheng, chairman of YR Cares, said in an exclusive interview with The Business Times: “When we look at what is needed today, I think that if we combine all three organisations together, we can make use of each other’s strengths and eliminate any overlaps. We can combine resources to be more focused.”
Previously, the three organisations supported different areas of reintegration. Yellow Ribbon Fund raised funds and disbursed bursaries, while Iscos provided social support and immediate assistance. Meanwhile, NeuGen Fund helped ex-offenders’ children and families.
Talks to combine the three had been ongoing, Cheng noted. It will also be “easier” for beneficiaries to have just one point of contact.
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Lowering reoffending rates
“What has changed (as a new entity) is delivery. With programmes and resources under one organisation, support is more integrated and consistent,” said Cheng. “This continuity of care is important in lowering reoffending.”
In Singapore, the short-term reoffending rate remains “stable” at 21.9 per cent as at 2026, but is at 39.3 per cent over the five-year period.
“When the person is first released, there’s actually a lot of support. But when you stretch the time horizon, if the person does not continue to be reintegrated into a support group or loses touch with support, there is a significant increase in the chances of them reoffending,” he added.
YR Cares’ efforts aim to lower these rates, while addressing challenges that ex-offenders face when returning to society. This includes finding stable employment, rebuilding family relationships and overcoming stigma.
The charity will focus on four key areas: supporting the integration of ex-offenders through initiatives; enabling ex-offenders to give back to society; supporting their families and children; and strengthening the ecosystem that supports them.
Upskilling and pro-social support
To help ex-offenders reintegrate back into society, YR Cares offers bursaries for tertiary education and skills upgrading under its Skills Training Assistance to Restart (Star) Bursary initiative.
For example, many ex-offenders enter the logistics sector and start off as a delivery attendant. If they want to upskill and obtain a certain driving licence, they can apply to the Star Bursary.
Ex-offenders who want to start their own business can also receive training, guidance, business mentoring and funding support from YR Cares and its partners.
Another key programme is the Titans programme – ex-offenders who have turned their lives around and obtained stable employment can return to YR Cares as Titans. They give back by helping to facilitate support group sessions; run peer engagement sessions in prison, halfway houses and agencies; and run outreach programmes.
There are currently 65 Titans in YR Cares, who work in a range of sectors from law to art to social services. They volunteer more than 500 hours annually.
Cheng said: “The Titans programme started under Iscos more than 10 years ago. In recent years, it has become more structured and intentional, and we also give them opportunities to (share) in schools, do outreach in the community and talk to youth at risk. These are people with lived experience, using it to engage the broader community.”
He hopes that Titans can continue to encourage and inspire other ex-offenders, so that more of them can eventually become Titans.
“The Titans programme is effective because it helps them take responsibility and build up their own confidence,” added Cheng.
Helping families
Many of the charity’s programmes focus on helping ex-offenders’ families and children, who are also involved in the reintegration process.
Cheng said: “Children of inmates and ex-offenders may face emotional, social and financial challenges. Local studies show that they are three times more likely to offend.”
To tackle this, YR Cares aims to ensure the children receive a holistic education and provides bursary awards and enrichment opportunities, as well as access to extracurricular activities such as football.
On top of deepening partnerships and developing more impactful programmes as a new entity, YR Cares also hopes to build “strong capabilities in areas such as case management, clinical supervision and impact measurement, so that our work is effective and evidence-based”, Cheng said.
In the next five to 10 years, he envisions YR Cares to be a “strong anchor organisation” for ex-offenders.
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