Table of Contents Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS)
MCYS’s mission is to build a cohesive and resilient society.
MCYS aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- socially responsible individuals;
- strong and stable families;
- a caring and active community;
- inspired and committed youth; and
- a sporting people.
A total budget of $1.97 billion will be voted to MCYS in FY2010 to achieve its mission. In addition, the ComCare Endowment Fund is projected to provide another $30.8 million of interest income to supplement the funds available for various social assistance programmes for needy families, while the Sporting Singapore Fund is projected to provide a sum of $75.5 million to help fund sports programmes.
Socially Responsible Individuals
MCYS aims to help Singaporeans take responsibility for looking after their personal and family welfare, rather than to depend on society. Programmes for the needy, juvenile delinquents and vulnerable families, elderly and disabled, will ensure that they remain integrated within our society and work towards self-reliance. MCYS also works with relevant public agencies and community partners to prepare Singapore for an ageing population, so that Singaporeans are prepared for their golden years and are able to age actively.
To enable and safeguard persons who lack mental capacity, the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) was passed by Parliament in September 2008 and gazetted into effect from 1 March 2010. The Office of the Public Guardian in MCYS will administer the Act and contribute to the protection of this group of vulnerable persons. It will work with the Subordinate Court to hear mental capacity related cases, and with the Insolvency & Public Trustee's Office to conduct the supervisory and investigatory works in respect of the person's financial matters.
For the Needy
$96 million (including the ComCare Interest of $30.8m) will be set aside to help low-income Singaporeans who need financial assistance. Children from low-income families have access to pre-school education so that their potential can be maximised. Help is provided to vulnerable families, as well as those who are unable to work and have little or no family support. In addition, the community is empowered to do more for the needy amongst them.
To support voluntary welfare organizations (VWO) to provide services to the needy, including the disabled, elderly, families, children’s homes, welfare homes for the destitute, a sum of $118 million has been budgeted. Another $9 million is also been set aside for the community self-help groups.
Strong & Stable Families
MCYS promotes strong and stable families and aims to make Singapore the best home where parents can raise their children and enjoy the warmth of family life.
$505 million will be set aside for the Baby Bonus Scheme ($281m), Government-Paid Maternity Leave Scheme ($122m), and Government-Paid Childcare Leave Scheme ($102m) to encourage and support married couples to have more children.
$215 million will be allocated for infant care and childcare subsidies to enhance parents’ access to quality childcare and infant care in a centre-based environment. To raise the quality of childcare, $51.9 million will also be set aside to provide scholarships for childcare teachers, recurrent grants for anchor non-profit childcare operators and capital grant to child care operators to set up more child care centres.
A Caring and Active Community
MCYS works towards bringing the different segments of society closer together to forge a common identity. To achieve this, MCYS encourages citizens to be actively involved in helping others through volunteerism and philanthropy. MCYS also works actively with religious and community groups to foster mutual understanding and maintain racial and religious harmony in the community. In addition, MCYS facilitates the growth of the non-profit sector.
Preserving Harmony in the Community
$347.1 million, inclusive of development funding of $39.1 million, will be allocated to the People's Association (PA). PA will continue to work closely with its network of grassroots organisations and volunteers to facilitate growth of communities by extending outreach to interest groups, promote quality bonding among residents through a wide range of interest-based activities, leverage on virtual platforms and partnership programmes to bridge the diverse community and strengthen social capital, and build trust between the people and Government. PA will also build capabilities of grassroots leaders and staff through targeted training programmes.
$4.4 million will be allocated to the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), a part of which goes to promote community engagement and the Singapore Muslim Identity.
To strengthen social cohesion, $5.4 million will be allocated to the National Integration Council (NIC) to promote social integration. NIC will work closely with local community organisations, immigration organisations, schools, employers and grassroots organisations to create more opportunities for greater interaction and mutual understanding amongst all Singaporeans. NIC will also promote positive mindsets towards greater diversity in our society, and raise awareness about the need for a cohesive and integrated Singapore.
Nurturing Active Citizens and Building a Strong Community Network
$21 million will be set aside to promote volunteerism, support philanthropy and build a strong network of community. This amount comprises $15.6 million to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and $5.4 million to the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC).
Inspired & Committed Youth
MCYS plays a part in creating an environment in which the youth have a say, plant a stake and get support. Through MCYS’ youth development and engagement programmes, the youth have a say in national and community issues. MCYS also supports youth–led projects to improve social conditions, and programmes that create opportunities for youth to develop their diverse talents, strengthen their resilience and pursue their dreams.
$166 million will be set aside for youth development initiatives in the following areas:
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Provide support to out-of-school youth and youth-at-risk through Enhanced STEP-UP programme, a streamlined programme that adopts a more client-centric approach to strengthen these youth resilience and to help them realise their potential.
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Establish a multi-agency Committee on Youth Guidance involving MOE, MCYS, WDA, NCSS and NYC to review and develop a systematic and structural framework to support out-of-school youth and youth-at-risk until 18 years old, and for these youth to be meaningfully engaged.
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Encourage youth to play an active role in their communities and inspire them to adopt and live by the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. This will be accomplished through the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, a new initiative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that balances sports, culture and education. Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will deliver a lasting sports, culture and education legacy for Singapore and youth from around the world, as well as enhance and elevate the sporting culture locally and internationally.
A Sporting People
Sports can transcend boundaries through Singaporeans’ participation in sporting activities and celebration of our sportsmen’s achievements. MCYS seeks to inculcate resilience, the will to succeed, a sense of national pride, and bond Singaporeans as a community through sports.
A total of $240.8 million, inclusive of $75.5 million from the Sporting Singapore Fund (SSF), will be allocated to support sports initiatives. This comprises:
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$126.4 million to promote regular sports participation among Singaporeans. This includes operating the national network of public sports facilities, collaborating with schools and PA to promote sports, supporting community partnership programmes, public education, promoting wellness in a targeted manner to groups such as women and the elderly, and other initiatives. In addition, new sports facilities will be developed to cater to the needs of the public.
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$49.9 million to develop the sports industry in Singapore, such as through organising international sports events like the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and the development of the Sports Hub.
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$42.7 million to support sports excellence through developing structured training and support schemes for our national athletes and coaches, establishing a better integrated and sustainable youth sports development strategy for our junior athletes, enhancing the operational capabilities of National Sports Associations, and providing up-to-date sports science and medicine and other services to our national athletes.
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$21.8 million to the Singapore Sports School to provide an environment where our student athletes can balance intensive sports training with a flexible academic curriculum so as to develop into sports champions of the future.
To find out more about the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and our initiatives, please feel free to visit our website.
