In 2003, URA introduced a policy to integrate community facilities in private commercial developments.  Under this scheme, compatible Civic & Community Institution (C&CI) uses are co-located with commercial uses for mutual benefit.

The list of community uses that would qualify for the Scheme include:

• Child care services
• Disability services
• Family services
• Eldercare services
• Volunteerism & Volunteer based programmes
• Community Library
• Community Clubs
• Sports facilities operated by NSA and supported by SSC

Usage of the C&CI Space is rent-free. Tenants pay a service fee each month for the maintenance of common facilities, and the relevant utilities charges.

Detailed guidelines and more information on C&CI space can be found on the URA website http://www.ura.gov.sg.

Scope

In partnership with private developers, NCSS facilitates the allocation & administration of five C&CI sites. These include :

• Bishan Junction 8
• Tiong Bahru Central Plaza
• Liang Court
• Parkway Parade
• Jurong Point

Other than Jurong Point, all C&CI sites have been fully allocated.

Both Tiong Bahru Central Plaza and Liang Court are developed under a social service hub concept where the co-tenant VWOs share the use and jointly manage the operations of the common facilities such as conference, meeting, counselling and activities rooms and reception as well as pantry area.  The hub also promotes greater synergy in integrated service delivery, as the close proximity of the VWOs facilitates cross-referral of services, making it more convenient for service users.

The Social Service Hub @ Tiong Bahru is the first shared office concept mooted by NCSS.  Located at Tiong Bahru Central Plaza, the Hub was launched on 18 February 2009. 

NCSS members offering direct services (supported by MCYS/NCSS) to be provided at the C&CI premises. The NCSS member is also required to have IPC status throughout the lease period.

The application form can be obtained here. Please contact Membership Services Department, NCSS 6210 2462/4 or email to ncss_membership@ncss.gov.sg

• NCSS member VWOs
• For VWOs with multiple centres, requests should be put up via headquarters
• The Microsoft software shall be used for administrative purposes or direct services
• A minimum purchase of 5 licenses
• Limited to 1 request per VWO every half-yearly

• Please provide details of the event/programme to be publicised using the form on Details on Proposal
• Eligibility criteria and application procedures

1. Telephone lines
• Ordinary lines (subsidy of $15 per line per month)
• Toll-free lines (subsidy of up to $120 per line per month)
2. Internet lines
• 1 account per VWO ($30 per month)
3. Facsimile (fax) Lines
• $10 per month per line (maximum of 2 lines per VWO)

*As this is a sponsorship from SingTel, only lines and internet (broadband) plans from Singtel and SingNet will be subsidized. The internet/fax lines subsidy is for a period of 3 years ending 2011.

• NCSS members
• providing direct social services
• running projects / services assessed to be worthy of support by NCSS

Apply Now for Singapore Telecom Sponsorship Scheme. (This will bring you to the login page to access e-services.)

• About one month

NCSS member VWOs that are registered charities may apply to raise funds through the selling of flags on Flag Days.  All Saturdays and the Wednesdays during school holidays have been allocated for such NCSS members to conduct Flag Days.

• Factsheet on Flag Day 2011
• Application Form for Single Flag Day
• Application Form for Joint Flag Day
• Closing date for applications: Monday, 7 June 2010.

Timeline

Apr to Jun:                   Application period
August:                        Eligible applicants will be invited to the Balloting Exercise
September:                  Flag Day Balloting Exercise/ Results of ballot

• Must be an NCSS member
• Must be a registered charity
• Accumulated reserves must not exceed 5 times the total operating expenditure 
• Must not be fully funded by the government
• Must not have any outstanding statements of accounts for past fund-raising permits
• Should maintain average gross proceeds of at least $50,000 (gross proceeds collected in a single day) over the last 3 Flag Days

• Eligible applicants will be informed by mid August 2010
• Successful applicants will be invited to attend the balloting exercise to be conducted on 22 September 2010.

For more information, please contact VWO Services Department at 6210 2464 or email ncss_membership@ncss.gov.sg

NTUC FairPrice-NCSS Discount Scheme for VWOs *New*

NCSS is partnering NTUC FairPrice in a preferential purchase scheme to bring VWOs a discount of 2% off their grocery purchase* when VWOs buy from FairPrice Online.

VWOs can also benefit from the special feature to display the regular grocery items needed by their agency (e.g. beverages for residential homes) on the FairPrice Online website under this scheme. This will allow members of the public to purchase the groceries that they want to donate to VWOs all year round. NTUC FairPrice will absorb the delivery costs of such donations.

Interested VWOs are to sign up by 31 January 2010. Please contact Membership Services Department, NCSS 6210 2462/4 or email to ncss_membership@ncss.gov.sg

Human Resource Advisory Shared Service

Advice on Human Resource (HR) matters has often been sought by VWOs. To help VWOs gain access to HR specialists who can provide useful guidance on various HR matters, NCSS is pleased to work with professional bodies to offer HR Advisory Shared Services to VWOs.

The advisory service will be provided via telephone and email, covering areas like the Employment Act, disputes over HR contracts, job descriptions and salary matters, as well as the retention and development of staff.

Procedure
For more information, please contact VWO Services Department, NCSS at 6210 2462/4 or email ncss_membership@ncss.gov.sg.

Vehicle Maintenance Services

Cleaning Services

Finance and Accounting Services - iServe

The Charity Council, in partnership with MCYS, MOH, NCSS and Singapore Sports Council, has appointed ST Electronics (e-Services) Pte Ltd to deliver a new finance and accounting services for charities and IPCs, including VWOs and National Sports Associations.

iServe or Integrated Shared Services for Excellence, aims to help charities and IPCs enhance their governance and financial management processes and lower their operating costs. In addition to finance and accounting, procurement and payroll services can also be provided under iServe for charities and IPCs as a bundled package.

Governance cum Internal Audit

With the introduction of the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs), many VWOs have made efforts to review and taken measures to enhance their compliance to the guidelines set in the Code. To further assist VWOs in this effort, NCSS has added to its range of shared services a new Governance cum Internal Audit service at preferential rates to member VWOs.

The Governance cum Internal Audit shared service provides reviews and recommendation on VWOs’ policies, processes and controls in the following areas:

• Code of Governance Guidelines for Charities and IPCs
• Revenue / Receipts
• Procurement and Payment
• Operating Expenditure
• Human Resource and Payroll
• Capital Expenditure.

Please contact Membership Services Department, NCSS 6210 2462/4 or email to ncss_membership@ncss.gov.sg

The HR Management and Administration Service allows VWOs to outsource their human resource functions for more professional management as well as achieve cost efficiency. HR functions offered by the vendor include:

• HR advisory support (employment issues, drafting of contract, development of HR Manual)
• e-HR (hosting of HR system) that includes e-Personnel, e-Leave, e-Pay, e-Calendar and e-Claim
• Leave and benefits administration
• Payroll management

For more information, please contact VWO Services Department, NCSS at 6210 2462/4 or email ncss_membership@ncss.gov.sg.

General medical and healthcare services are often required by VWOs for both staff and clients. As part of the effort to make services affordable and accessible to VWOs, NCSS has partnered with SATA (a voluntary non-profit organization) to provide healthcare services to the community, especially the less advantaged, needy and elderly, to offer such services at preferential rates for NCSS Members.

Some of the services offered are medical services (general practitioner services, vaccinations, etc), preventive healthcare services (x-ray, mammogram, ECG, etc) and health screening programmes.

Design and printing services are found to be essential functions in a VWO's operations, outreach and publicity activities. Yet some of the VWOs do not have the scale to maintain in-house design expertise while others are faced with rising cost of printing. NCSS has worked with committed service providers to develop and provide the new Design & Printing Shared Service to NCSS member VWOs at preferential rates.

The design and printing services include newsletters, annual reports, posters, flyers, brochures and invitation cards, as well as corporate stationary like name cards, letterheads, envelopes and notepads.

1. VWO must be member of NCSS;
2. VWO has no previous claims and/or claims circumstances;
3. VWO must not be in an accumulated loss position;
4. VWO must not be in deficiency of assets position; and
5. VWOs must not be engaged in the promotion or placement of insurance for its members.