PSSA 2010 - Informal Group Category Award Winner

SGH Volunteer Club

The SGH Volunteer Club (SVC) was officially formed in 2009 as part of the Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) corporate social responsibility efforts.  It was formed to facilitate and encourage sustainable staff contribution to community service.  Headed by a senior doctor, the club comprises 800 staff volunteers from different departments such as medical, allied health, nursing, operations and administration.

SGH’s volunteers had actively participated in various community outreach and fund-raising activities prior to the formal establishment of the SVC.  Since 2006, through the annual SGH Community Day, these volunteers have worked directly with needy elderly patients and beneficiaries from various voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Tai Pei Home for the Elderly.  Highlights of SVC’s contributions last year include visits to the homes of more than 80 needy elderly patients to assess their living conditions, so as to support refurbishment needs like the buying of new beds; and an event for wheelchair-bound children and teenagers with muscular dystrophy, which featured specially-designed games to replace mundane and routine rehabilitation exercises.

SVC also plays a key role in raising the public’s health literacy levels, especially among the elderly.  Last year, more than 300 healthcare professionals volunteered over 100 hours for public health education during weekends, organising more than 15 public forums and health fairs.  These programmes reached out to more than 15,000 participants, of whom over 70 per cent were above the age of 50.

Beyond community outreach activities, SVC also facilitates fund-raising efforts for the hospital, holding jumble sales, distributing donation pledge cards and enlisting SGH’s management staff, vendors and partners to join hands in raising funds.  Over the last year, SVC has raised close to $100,000 for SGH Community Day outreach activities and for various VWOs.

Other PSSA 2010 winners: