PSSA 2008 - Formal Group/ Non-Profit/ Public Sector Organisation Award Winner

Singapore Civil Defence Force

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) adopts a structured three-pronged approach to community service. Its community efforts are directed to three areas, namely voluntary work with VWOs and providing professional assistance, fundraising events and emergency services, and supporting other ad-hoc fundraising efforts like the President’s Challenge.

SCDF currently works with 18 VWOs and charitable organisations such as the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore, The Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance Brigade, and has supported programmes by Community Chest.

Some of the activities carried out by the SCDF at these VWOs include cleaning and upkeeping of the premises, and organising social and recreational activities for the beneficiaries.

They also utilise their expertise to serve the community by conducting regular training on emergency planning for the staff of adopted charities. In this way, the VWOs would be better equipped with fire safety skills. SCDF has also put in place fire evacuation plans and systems for charities such as homes for the elderly and persons with physical disabilities as they are more vulnerable to fire hazards.

Since 2004, SCDF has managed to raise over $238,000 for various charities and events such as the President’s Challenge, Yellow Ribbon Project, Handicaps Welfare Association, etc. Almost all of SCDF’s officers contribute monthly to the SHARE Programme, raising about $60,000 in 2007. In October this year, they also received the Community Chest SHARE Platinum Award.

SCDF’s core values are Pride and Care, which are also embedded in its community service programmes. A Pride and Care Day event is organised annually on April 15 th to celebrate SCDF’s efforts in community responsibility programmes where all the beneficiaries from all of their adopted charities and homes are engaged in the event.

A total of 1,500 members of SCDF have participated in their community service programmes, an equivalent of 75% of their workforce. In 2007, SCDF contributed 5,819 man-hours per year for community service, exceeding their target of 5,000 man-hours.

Other PSSA 2008 winners: