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 Schemes & Provisions Dept of Resource Allocation Division at Tel: 6210 2508 or email to ncss_rad@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
• Registered with the Commissioner of Charities
• Providing direct social services or promoting community development
• Not be fully funded by the government, statutory boards, NCSS and other government agencies
• Maintain an average gross of at least $50,000 (collected in a single day) in gross proceeds from Flag Day collections over the last three Flag Days. Organisations that are unable to meet this requirement will be not be eligible to participate in Flag Day for the next two years.
• The accumulated reserves do not exceed 5 times the total operating expenditure. The reserves over the last 3 years, where available, will be taken into consideration. This criterion is similar to the reserves ratio used in the assessment of applications for 'Institution of a Public Character' (IPC) status.

• Any outstanding Audited Statement of Accounts for fund raising events

• No charge

• About three months
• All eligible applicants will be invited to attend a balloting exercise to obtain a Flag Day slot.

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 the Schemes & Provisions Department at ncss_rad@ncss.gov.sg for more information.

Human Resource Advisory Shared Service *New*

Advisory on Human Resource (HR) matters has often been sought by VWOs. To help VWOs gain access to HR specialists that can provide useful guidance on various HR matters, NCSS is pleased to work with professional bodies to offer HR Advisory Shared Service to VWOs. The advisory service will be provided via telephone and email, covering areas like Employment Act, dispute over HR contract, job description and salary matters, as well as retention and development of staff.

Interested VWOs are to sign up by 31 January 2010. Please contact the Schemes & Provisions Department at ncss_rad@ncss.gov.sg for more information.

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 email Schemes & Provisions Department at ncss_rad@ncss.gov.sg for the contacts of the governance cum internal audit vendor.

Human resource (HR) management and administration are corporate functions that require the attention and resources of most VWOs. As part of the effort to help VWOs carry out such common functions more cost effectively, NCSS has added in its range of Shared Services Scheme a new HR Shared Service. The HR Management and Administration shared service aims to enable VWOs to outsource some of the HR functions.

The services include Human Resource (HR) Management, Leave & Benefits Management, Payroll Management, Web-Based Human Resource Portal (e-HR).

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.