NTUC launches fund with S$500 million target to support seniors, children

[SINGAPORE] The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on Thursday (Apr 9) launched the NTUC Community Fund, with a target to raise S$500 million over the next five years. It aims to support children and seniors in Singapore.

This fund is formed from the merger of Bright Horizons Fund by NTUC First Campus and Health for Life Fund, which have an initial base of S$200 million.

Growth towards NTUC Community Fund’s target will be supported by contributions from the businesses of NTUC Enterprise. This is the holding entity of a portfolio of impact-focused businesses, charities and financial investments.

At the launch, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said: “The Bright Horizons Fund and the Health for Life Fund have helped thousands of families access early childhood support and developmental assistance for their children, and care for their elderly.”

A spokesperson from NTUC Community Fund added that the move “allows us to plan for the long term and coordinate our efforts more effectively”.

Ng said: “By scaling our efforts under the NTUC Community Fund: more families who are lower income or have additional needs will have the support to access early education and intervention support; and more seniors will have support to access essential care services and community programmes to enable them to age in place.”

Over the next three years, NTUC aims to increase the number of people supported through the fund on a yearly basis from 7,000 to 10,000 children, and from 2,000 to 3,000 seniors.

Programmes supported by the fund

Around S$12 million has been earmarked for disbursement this year to programmes supporting child development and eldercare.

One such initiative is the You’ve Got Talent enrichment programme for preschool children to explore sports and arts programmes.

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Another is the Development Support Specialist Programme, which provides in-classroom guidance and therapy support within preschools.

So far, NTUC noted that children under the latter programme have shown improvements in areas such as social interaction and emotional regulation. It is currently implemented at My First Skool centres and will expand to other preschool operators.

For seniors, the NTUC Community Fund will provide financial assistance to help lower-income seniors access nursing home care, day-care services and home-care services. It will also go towards initiatives to reduce social isolation and engage in active ageing.

For example, it will help to fund programmes such as Walking Football, a slow-paced version of football designed for players of all abilities and ages, and Community Cafe, a social hub where seniors can work as baristas. Both programmes also foster social connection.