Our Humble Beginnings |
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| Before 1958, social services
were piecemeal, hampered by the lack of proper co-ordination
and support. With the formation of the Singapore Council
of Social Service (SCSS) on 22 December 1958, a structured
umbrella body was born to bring together all organisations
and individuals with interest in community service and
social welfare. In 1983, the Community Chest, a centralised
fund-raiser, was established to relieve voluntary organisations
of fund-raising activities so that they could concentrate
on providing better care and services for the needy. 1984
saw the initiation of the SHARE (Social Help and Assistance
Raised by Employees) programme, the Volunteer Action and
Development Centre, and the Sharity programme. In 1992,
SCSS was restructured to become the National Council of
Social Service, setting the momentum for social services
to leap into the 21st century. |
|
1992 |
|
| The Singapore Council of Social Service is restructured
to become the National Council of Social Service
with a new logo and identity. |
|
| Dr Robert C K Loh presided as the first President
and Dr Richard Eu was appointed Chairman of the
Community Chest. |
|
|
1994 |
| Commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Community
Chest. |
|
| Appointed by the then Ministry of Community Development
as the national co-ordinator of Family Service Centres. |
|
| Established Very Special Arts to introduce new
approaches to rehabilitation and the enrichment
of the disabled through arts, dance and drama disciplines. |
|
|
1995 |
| Organised the first Mental Health Campaign. |
|
| Set up the first Nursing Network for 21 Voluntary
Welfare Organisations. |
|
|
1996 |
| Launched Volunteer A Day
for the public to experience volunteerism. |
|
1998 |
| Commemorated 40th anniversary of structured social
services. |
|
| Established the Network of Physiotherapists and
Occupational Therapists. |
|
|
1999 |
| Launched the Social Service 21 Vision to develop
and re-position social services for the 21st century.
|
|
| Launched the Corporate Community Involvement Programme
to forge longer-term partnerships with corporate
supporters. |
|
| Set up the Executive Directors' Network to provide
heads of agencies a platform to discuss and exchange
ideas on management and leadership issues. |
|
|
2000 |
| Bade farewell after 28 years at Penang Lane and
settled at the new NCSS Centre in Ghim Moh. |
|
| Ms Jennie Chua succeeded Dr Richard Eu as the
Chairman of the Community Chest. |
|
| Implemented the Programme Evaluation System to
put in place a system in Voluntary Welfare Organisations
to monitor and assess social service programme outputs
and outcomes. |
|
|
2001 |
| Commenced implementation of the Info-Communications
Technology Masterplan, leading to enhanced service
delivery in the social service sector. |
|
| Developed Best Practice Guidelines for six programme
types and conducted Best Practice checks for more
than 20 programmes. |
|
| Commenced re-branding exercise for the Community
Chest. |
|
| Inaugurated the President's Social Service Award,
conferred by the President of Singapore to outstanding
volunteers. |
|
|
2002 |
| Commemorated the 10th anniversary of the National
Council of Social Service. |
|
| Mr Gerard Ee succeeded Dr Robert C K Loh as the
President of NCSS. |
|
|
2003 |
| Launch of the Social Service Training Institute. |
|
| Volunteer Action for Social Service was relaunched
as NCSS Volunteer Circle. |
|
| 100% implementation of the Programme Evaluation
System by NCSS-funded programmes. |
|
2004 |
| Organised first Disability Awareness Public Education
Campaign |
|
| Launch of Disability Portal |
|
|
2005 |
| Implemented the Therapy Hub concept |
|
| Launched ‘Youths Embrace Social Services!’,
a competition to engage youths’ interest in
social services |
|
| Launched the Seniors Helpline to provide counselling,
information and referral services for older persons |
|
|
2006 |
| RADM (Ret) Kwek Siew Jin succeeded Mr Gerard Ee
as the President of NCSS |
|
| Introduction of new NCSS logo |
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| NCSS ACT
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