Talent development programme for ComLink+ families to be expanded nationwide

SINGAPORE – An initiative to help vulnerable families develop their talents and aspirations through sponsorships will be expanded nationwide.

Known as Gift-A-Family (GAF), the scheme is intended to help such families move beyond stability to achieving self-reliance and social mobility, Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee said on Nov 11.

GAF, which complements the national ComLink+ framework of state support for lower-income families, was started as a pilot in Boon Lay in 2022, and has since been extended to Clementi, Jurong East Bukit Merah, Queenstown and Tampines.

Seven more divisions will come onboard in the coming months: Hong Kah North, Marsiling, Nanyang, Nee Soon Link, Paya Lebar, Punggol North and Toa Payoh Central. 

The eventual aim is for GAF to cover eligible ComLink+ and vulnerable families supported by Social Service Offices islandwide by 2028, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in a statement on Nov 12.

The ministry said it will work with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the People’s Association (PA) to expand the GAF programme. 

To support the expansion, Community Chest, the philanthropic arm of NCSS, will provide seed funding of $100,000 per division each year from 2026 to 2028, totalling $4.2 million.

GAF works by identifying the interests of both children and parents in ComLink+ families, such as in sports, music, and vocational training.

It also provides support in areas such as academic enrichment and therapeutic programmes.

The scheme has to date supported over 180 lower-income families and individuals.

“These are mostly not needs – these are additional forms of support that will help the family achieve self-reliance and social mobility,” said Lee. “So it often helps with the studies, helps them with upskilling, and is motivational in nature.”

Under the initiative, social service offices will identify suitable families and individuals who would benefit from sponsorship to pursue their aspirations, including those referred by PA, said MSF. 

Through regular conversations with their ComLink+ family coaches, families identify goals that are important to them and explore courses and opportunities that can support their progress. 

Support will be tailored to each family’s or individual’s circumstances, strengths and aspirations, it said. 

From stability to social mobility

Singapore’s national support schemes and the work of charities and social service agencies help families achieve stability, but GAF is meant to go further, said Lee. 

The initiative aims to connect families to individual donors and mentors, and in doing so to enhance the outlook of such families and motivate them to achieve breakthroughs, said the minister.

He gave an example of a boy in the scheme’s pilot who had difficulties with school attendance and focus. 

The school’s counsellors found that the child had an interest in music and drumming, and GAF matched him with a stranger who was also interested in drumming who agreed to fund music lessons.

“The two of them still jam together - total strangers from seemingly different worlds in Singapore, but united through this common interest,” said Lee.

He also cited one parent who was funded by GAF to get certified in crawler crane operation, and has secured a job in construction, as well as a student who received maths tuition before her O-level examinations, and saw her results improve. 

The ideal outcome is for every ComLink+ family – including their children and some parents – to be paired up with another Singaporean through the programme, added Lee, who said there are many successful Singaporeans who want to contribute.

The programme is very labour intensive because it is about tailored, one-to-one support, Lee added, but this approach was chosen as it is also meant to help families feel as though other Singaporeans are looking out for them. 

“It is a sense that our ComLink families’ journey of empowerment is not just about the Government or social services playing a part, but that there are other Singaporeans who’ve done well in life who also want to contribute,” he said.

While GAF began in Boon Lay, where Lee is MP and grassroots advisor, the goal was always to see if it could be replicated elsewhere, he said.

But progress will not be linear for every family, said Lee. He cited the case of one family where a parent had to be incarcerated, which set back the family’s earlier progress.

“We say never mind. We may have taken a few steps back – let’s try again. GAF is there, ComLink+ Progress Package measures are there. The Family Service Centre is there. The family coach is there,” he said.

It will also be another tool for situations where intensive support is needed, and he cited another case where a grandmother with no income is taking care of two children with the parents out of the picture. 

This is where GAF can step in to support the children. Overall, the aim is for families to lead good, fulfilled lives, Lee said.

“To do that, we must first settle stability issues and then help them to break through. If not for this generation, then the next, the children.” 

MSF said that, over time, local councils will be set up at the various divisions to bring together community networks such as business owners, community groups and residents to raise funds and mobilise resources for GAF. 

Organisations and individuals that wish to support GAF can donate through Community Chest, and residents in the participating divisions can approach their SSOs to find out more, it added.