Family Matters to reach 2 million Singaporeans by 2015

More funds for family life programmes

By Priscilla Goy, The Sunday Times, 31 Mar 2013

Some $3 million will be set aside over the next three years, for family life education programmes in the community.

This was announced by Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing on the sidelines of his visit to a Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) centre at Redhill yesterday.

The FamilyMatters@Community scheme, launched earlier this month, will be expanded to co-fund 80 per cent of the costs to run approved programmes, up to $600 an hour, but capped at four hours. In the past, the Government funded only line items, such as speaker fees and refreshments.

Funding guidelines will be more flexible to include hands-on and interactive activities as well as programmes for singles, instead of just talks and workshops. But the family life education component must occupy at least half of the programme duration.

All organisations, except commercial or for-profit family life education service providers, can apply for the scheme starting tomorrow.

Mr Chan, who also shared his experience as a father of three at a parenting talk at CDAC@Redhill, said it was important to identify the needs of the people who may not usually attend such programmes.

Meeting those needs, he added, could be done through events such as the parenting talk, as well as other avenues such as programmes at workplaces.

The FamilyMatters@Community scheme is part of the FamilyMatters! initiative by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

It was announced in Parliament earlier this month that $40 million would be set aside over the next three years to cultivate a pro-family environment, through platforms such as schools and workplaces. Through this, the ministry hopes to double its reach to two million Singaporeans by 2015.

CDAC executive director Goh Chim Khim said the enhanced funding will allow it to increase the number of programmes it organises and reach out to more people.

Fei Yue Community Services senior manager Evelyn Khong said the flexible funding guidelines will allow her to organise high-tea sessions for singles.

She added: "Singles need more interaction-based programmes, instead of just one-way talks."