Take-up Rate of VWOs-Charities Capability Fund

Mr K Karthikeyan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the annual take-up rate of the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund (VCF) for the past three years; and (b) whether the Ministry has plans to further encourage VWOs and charities to make use of the funds available for staff training.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: The VCF supports capability building efforts of VWOs and Charities that deliver social services in Singapore. Organisations can tap on grants to develop their staff's professional capabilities or to enhance productivity, innovation and organisational capability. Over 10,000 grant applications have been approved under the VCF since April 2012. The total approved funding was close to $30 million.

The National Council of Social Service (NCSS), which administers the VCF, is actively promoting the fund through various platforms. NCSS will continue its outreach efforts to boost applications for the Fund.