Partnering to build our future Singapore
The Singapore Together movement, launched in June 2019, is about Singaporeans working with the Government and with one another to build our future Singapore. The movement aims to open up many more partnership opportunities for Singaporeans to participate in and provide support for more citizen-led initiatives, whatever our backgrounds or interests.
Co-creating policies upstream
Singaporeans have more opportunities to shape issues that they care about:
- Citizens were consulted via a Citizens’ Workgroup on the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, which was introduced in the Unity Budget 2020 to boost the retirement adequacy of seniors with little retirement savings.
- Over 20 representatives from small businesses, associations, landlords, and tenant groups contributed to the development of the Rental Relief Framework, which was introduced in the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Amendment Bill. They were engaged over multiple sessions on the difficulties businesses faced, appropriate relief measures, and impact the proposed measures would have on them. Their views were used to further refine relief measures, and with the help from private sector lawyers who brought in contract law expertise, the Bill was introduced within 21 days.
The opportunity to co-create policy is also available to the diverse groups that make up Singapore society:
- Since its launch in May 2019, the SG Youth Action Plan (SG YAP) has reached out to over 400,000 youths and engaged close to 70,000 youths on their vision for the future of Singapore in 2025. As part of SG YAP, 250 youths took part in the Youth Action Challenge and worked on 57 projects related to environmental sustainability, societal issues, and jobs and the future of work.
- Over 200 persons with disabilities, caregivers, and disability organisations participated in 13 engagement sessions in the second half of 2019 to share their aspirations and challenges. Their views will be incorporated into the recommendations of respective Enabling Masterplan workgroups set up to improve inclusive preschools, employability, and independent living. The workgroups will also partner disability organisations and volunteers from the private and people sectors to co-ideate, co-design, and co-implement solutions.
Read more: Emerging Stronger as One
Co-delivering for a better Singapore
Singaporeans are also partnering one another for a better Singapore, supported by the Government:
- Nine SG Cares Volunteer Centres (VCs), with six more in the pipeline by June 2021, have been appointed to grow volunteerism in towns by fostering collaboration among local partners, strengthening volunteer management capabilities, and creating more volunteering opportunities. Since the setup of the first VC in 2018, more than 7,000 volunteers and close to 250 organisations have worked together to deliver help to seniors and vulnerable families.
- The Friends of the Parks (FoTP) initiative provides a platform for stakeholders to come together to build consensus, manage, and run programmes in our green spaces. Under FoTP, the community has initiated projects such as mangrove restoration and species recovery at various nature areas to enrich Singapore’s biodiversity.
- Since the launch of Our Singapore Fund in 2016, $4.3 million has gone to support more than 240 ground-up projects involving over 9,000 partners and volunteers.
- Seven National Innovation Challenges (NIC) were launched in July 2020 to partner industry in developing solutions to the challenges that businesses are grappling with, particularly on reopening our economy safely and emerging stronger. NIC builds on the strong innovation partnerships that the Government has established over time, with various challenges launched over the years.
Read more: Social Safety Nets
Consulting on national policies and issues
In 2019, over 60,000 Singaporeans were engaged on national policies through REACH’s Listening Points, in the form of mobile pop-up booths and dialogue sessions. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, REACH (reaching everyone for active citizenry @ home) has transitioned to the digital space and continues to gather public sentiments and feedback through e-Listening Points and online dialogues. REACH also continues to reach out to the community on hot-button issues through its WhatsApp group chats.
To help foster an informed and engaged citizenry, REACH explains and provides facts to Singaporeans about national policies. One example was during the COVID-19 pandemic, from January to February 2020. Together with volunteers from across the public service, REACH polled public sentiments on COVID-19 and awareness of safety measures, as well as engaged Singaporeans on protective measures that they could take such as wearing a face mask, frequent handwashing, and other personal hygiene practices.
Read more: Government and Regulations
Shaping our physical environment together
Singaporeans also play an active role in partnering the Government to shape the physical environment in which we live, work, and play:
- Feedback on the URA Draft Master Plan 2019 (DMP19) proposals was provided by close to 10,000 people from community groups, grassroots organisations, the private sector, professional associations, and academia, through online platforms and over 400 public tours of the DMP19 exhibition. Additionally, over 15 workshops and in-depth engagements enabled residents to co-create the land use, heritage, and urban design plans for areas such as Dakota Crescent, Farrer Park, Holland Plain, and Lorong Chuan.
- The Lively Places Programme has provided funding and training to support the implementation of over 200 ground-up projects that seek to enliven public spaces in Singapore. Singaporeans contributed over 60,000 volunteering hours under the programme. The projects include craft workshops and carnivals organised by neighbours and students; sidewalks converted into interesting gathering spots; empty green lawns converted to community gardens; and void deck spaces refurbished into cosy residents’ corners.
Read more: Housing and Amenities | Arts and Heritage
Singaporeans from all walks of life have partnered one another and with the Government for a wide range of issues from concept to implementation. Together, Singaporeans are building a future Singapore we can be proud of. This embodies the spirit of Singapore Together.
