LEARN
MORE ABOUT VWOs AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR
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What
is a Voluntary Welfare Organisation?
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| An organisation that provides welfare services and/or
services that benefit the community at large and is not profit-making.
There is no legal definition of a VWO, but VWOs are typically registered
as a society with the Societies Act, a company limited by guarantee
with the Companies Act, or as a Trust (under a trust deed). |
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How
to set up a VWO?
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| Should you wish to set up a VWO, there are three
registration options available for you: |
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To form a Trust
You would need to ask your legal advisors or lawyers to do
the necessary administrative papers to set up a Trust under
the Trustees Act. For more information, you may wish to check
the website http://statutes.agc.gov.sg
under the Trustees Act for more information.
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Responsibilities
of the different legal entities
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| There are different responsibilities involved when
you register as a society, company limited by guarantee, or when you
form a trust. Below is a matrix that maps out the respective responsibilities: |
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Register as a society |
Register as a company limited by guarantee |
Set up a Trust |
| Registration |
Needs to pay a registration fee ranging between
$280 to $450. |
Needs to pay a registration fee of $600. |
Legal advice is needed if you wish to set
up a trust fund.For some background information on the Trustee's
Act, you may wish to refer to this website http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/
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| Overheads |
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Large overheads may be needed to pay for
an auditor and a company secretary |
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| Constitution |
Needs to draft constitution for society |
Needs to draft legal constitution and incur
legal fees |
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| Assets and Properties |
Assets have to be held in a trustee's name |
Able to hold assets in its name as it is
a legal entity |
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| Minimum number of people |
Needs to have a minimum number of 10 members |
Needs a minimum of 2 persons |
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| You may wish to tap on the following networking
platforms: |
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LeadersXchange
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| The NCSS LeadersXchange is organised by SSTI with
the aim to facilitate discussions and exchange of ideas related to
best practices of governance, leadership and management. The bi-annual
network sessions provide opportunities for VWO board members and executive
directors to interact, share ideas and learn from each other's experiences.
For further information, please contact Ms Jolina Chua at 6210 5563
or jolina_chua@ncss.gov.sg. |
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Children's
Home Network (CHN)
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| The CHN brings together the Heads of children's
and young persons' homes run by voluntary welfare organisations. It
aims to provide a link for the homes to work closely with each other,
to encourage sharing of resources and expertise for better quality
services, and to identify issues pertinent to residential care for
children. For more information, please contact Ms Eunice Lin at 6210
2514 or email to eunice_lin@ncss.gov.sg |
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Disability
Network
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| The Disability Network aims to identify new service
areas for development, improve existing services and programmes, and
enhance professionalism in the disability sector. It provides a platform
for service providers to come together to identify pertinent issues
and potential collaborations within the sector towards better client
outcomes. The Disability Network is attended by Executive Directors,
Programme Heads and professional and senior staff from various disability
programmes. For more information, please call 6210 2500 and contact: |
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| - Senior Assistant Executive/Children Disability
Services |
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| - Senior Executive/ Adult Disability Services |
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HR
Network
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| The HR Network serves as a platform to facilitate
information sharing, learning and networking opportunities for Executive
Directors and/or HR practitioners from VWOs. A broad spectrum of professionals,
trainers, management consultants and the academia are invited to share
their expertise on issues of topical interest in the area of HR. For
more information, please contact Ms Ng Hwee Choon at 6210 2704 or
email to NG_Hwee_Choon@ncss.gov.sg. |
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Family
Services (FS) Network
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| The FS Network provides the platform for the existing
36 FSCs to share expertise and information with one another. It aims
to identify and address service gaps effectively through collaboration
amongst agencies. The network sessions are held quarterly for FSCs.
For more information, please contact Ms Joyce Puah at 6210 2663 or
email to joyce_puah@ncss.gov.sg |
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Integrated
Eldercare Network
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| The Integrated Eldercare Network aims to enhance
eldercare services through setting service standards and improving
service delivery through formation of interest groups for specific
services. As a platform for information sharing and dissemination,
the network promotes inter-agency collaboration and co-ordination,
resulting in better integration of eldercare services and effective
identification of service gaps in the eldercare sector. The network
is attended by representatives from various eldercare agencies as
well as hospitals, government ministries and CDCs. For more information,
please contact Ms Siau Li Fui at 6210 2534 or email to siau_li_fui@ncss.gov.sg |
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Mental
Health Network
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| The Mental Health Network is a platform for surfacing,
discussing and collaborating on new and needed services in the mental
health sector. Members of the network include staff from the Institute
of Mental Health, Singapore Association for Mental Health, and VWOs
providing psychiatric services. For more information, please contact
Ms June Seet at 6210 2541 or email to june_seet@ncss.gov.sg |
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Research
Network
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| The Research Network aims to bring together VWOs
who are keen to build their research knowledge through sharing and
learning. The network provides a platform to enable VWOs to improve
their research knowledge and skills, as well as promote a research
culture in the social service sector. Speakers are invited to share
on social service research, while participants can share their experiences
in conducting social service research in their respective areas. For
more information, please contact Ms Stella Koh at 6210 2495 or email
to stella_koh@ncss.gov.sg |
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STEP-UP
Network
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| The STEP-UP Network brings together VWOs and schools
for greater collaboration and sharing of resources. It aims to enhance
the capability and capacity of school social workers through sharing
of knowledge, skills and good practices. Network sessions are held
twice a year. For more information, please contact Ms Robyn Tan at
6210 2630 or email to robyn_tan@ncss.gov.sg |
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Therapists'
Network
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| The Therapists' Network - for occupational therapists,
physiotherapists and speech therapists - aims to provide a platform
to share knowledge, skills and expertise related to professional matters
and to promote continuing education and training in therapy-related
issues. The network hopes to foster closer ties and rapport between
professionals in VWOs and facilitate a better understanding of the
different areas of therapy-related work in the various agencies. For
more information, please contact Ms Lynette Sim at 6210 2544 or email
to lynette_sim@ncss.gov.sg |
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Youth
Services Network
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| The Youth Services Network brings together youth
workers for greater collaboration and sharing of resources. It creates
opportunities for discussion on current youth trends and exchanging
of ideas. Network sessions are held quarterly for youth agencies.
For more information, please contact Mr Jared Tham at 6210 2658 or
email to jared_tham@ncss.gov.sg |
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List
of NCSS member VWOs
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| For
a listing of the VWOs |
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