Annual Report 2010-11
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Annual Report 2010-11 Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd 237 Alexandra Road #04-19 The Alexcier Singapore 159929 Tel: 6743 7885 Fax: 6472 1987 www.iscos.org.sg ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 ANNUAL REPORT ISCOS is also a member of the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network, which organizes the annual Yellow Ribbon Project CONTENTS Intro Theme 01 New Initiatives Tuition Bursary 31 Mission / 5 Es 02 Peer Mentoring Programme 32 Chairman’s Message 04 Messages Flagship Fairy Godparent Programme 34 Director of Prisons’ Message 06 Skills Assistance Subsidy 37 SCORE Chairman’s Message 07 Programmes THEME: ‘IMPACT’ Scheme Executive Directors’ Message 08 ISCOS Football Club 38 SMS Project 40 Board Members ISCOS Board of Directors 10 ISCOS Board of Trustees 11 Gift of Hope 41 ISCOS Appreciation Tea 43 As our members journey on through life after leaving prison, Media Coverage Media Coverage 12 Volunteer Section Volunteer Training 46 they may be likened to fishes swimming in the ocean, having Volunteer Feature - Leroy Ang 47 ISCOS Team ISCOS Staff 14 to brace themselves against strong currents of self-doubt and Event Highlights ISCOS Family Day 16 RE Holdings RE Holdings 48 - ‘Be My Super Hero’ RE Board of Directors 49 rejection. ISCOS Children’s Day 18 Connect Centre 50 - ‘Amazing Race at the Zoo’ Institute for Career Development / 51 New Office Opening 2011 20 I.M.BOSS (F&B) But like the waves that undergird the fishes and enable them to move on, ISCOS Book Grant 2010 22 provides support to ex-offenders through meaningful and constructive programmes Tribute of Love 2 24 ISCOS Supporters Sponsors & Partners 53 and events that empower them to become better individuals with a greater purpose ‘Friends of ISCOS’ 25 Volunteers 54 Employers’ Networking Dialogue 26 and clear direction. New Leaf Workshop 27 Financials Financial Statements 56 Annual General Meeting 28 The IMPACT of these programmes on our members is most keenly seen and felt when Social Enterprise Showcase 29 Acknowledgement ISCOS Ambassador 94 they have braved and survived the rough tides to re-establish themselves in their families, work and the community. We appeal to the community to support us in this worthy cause. Collectively, we can make an impact on many lives. ISCOS ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 | 3 ISCOS ISCOS 5 Es Mission “To promote self-esteem and economic independence in ex-offenders while guiding them towards good citizenship Enrichment and good value systems.” Entrepreneurship As one way of reintroducing themselves to society, ISCOS provides platforms for members to channel ISCOS assists members who want to build their We strive to achieve this mission by being: their interest in sports and other physical activities. own small to medium enterprise by connecting This programme helps members to develop their them to agencies with existing entrepreneurship • An organisation that is readily available to help ex-offenders character, discipline and self-confidence through programmes and to partners who may provide • A Co-operative that develops enterprises that can provide employment opportunities sports as well as enhance their social skills by direct grants. The Co-operative also supports to our members interacting with volunteer players. members with existing small businesses by utilising • A partner with whom members can fully utilise their skills their services, helping in marketing schemes, and ISCOS’ sports rehabilitation teams like the ISCOS giving referrals or potential customers. Football Club and Dragon Boat Team have been ISCOS 5 Es – Pillars for Reintegration well-patronised by members who are eager to ISCOS also conducts entrepreneurial talks for spend their time productively. members who want to start their own business. Employment After being released from prison, ex-offenders face a daunting challenge in seeking employment. As such, ISCOS provides employment assistance and job referral services to members so they can have Empowerment a sustainable income, thus preventing them from being tempted to commit offences anew. As some ISCOS empowers its members through community companies may not be open to hiring ex-inmates, Education involvement by engaging them in volunteerism ISCOS, through an initiative called ‘Corporate efforts to help make a difference in other people’s Doors’, works closely with potential employers to give Having a formal education paves the way to brighter lives. Members who have successfully turned reformed ex-offenders a second chance. opportunities. As such, ISCOS encourages young their lives around are encouraged to join the Peer ex-offenders to finish their studies or pursue higher Mentoring Programme where they can mentor Through the Skills Assistance Subsidy Scheme, education by connecting them to relevant aftercare offenders before they are released and extend members whose skills have become outdated due to partners and appropriate financial assistance or moral support as they embark on a new journey a period of incarceration can upgrade themselves in bursary. Together with corporate partners and outside the prison bars. order to quickly adapt to the evolving job market. volunteers, ISCOS has also developed knowledge enrichment activities and workshops for the Among the community service projects that ISCOS Qualified members are also employed by ISCOS and members’ children to help them build better lives. is actively involved in is the annual Tribute of by affiliate companies like Mister Clean, I.M.BOSS Love 2, organised by the Yellow Ribbon Project. (F&B), Connect Centre and Institute for Career For this reason, ISCOS Fairy Godparent This event allows members to give back to society Development. Programme focuses on providing educational by serving the elderly. support through an annual Book Grant for At the Member Resource Centre, members can members’ children. Along with this is ISCOS’ search for jobs online by emailing applications or recent commencement of the Tuition Bursary browsing at job portals and databases of potential programme for members’ children who require employers as well as other job vacancies. professional tuition to improve their school grades. 2 | ISCOS ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 ISCOS ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 | 5 Chairman’s Message I wish to acknowledge and thank all the corporate In particular, I commend Mr Abdul Karim who had served organisations and individuals who have responded to our two and a half years in ISCOS as Executive Director call for donations. In particular, I commend partners like (Development). Under his leadership, the number of new iCreate Wealth Planners, a financial advisory group for initiatives, membership and volunteers have increased. getting their agents to commit to give a portion of their commission to ISCOS. By doing so, the firm is involving As Karim returns to the Singapore Prison Service, I am their entire staff to support the community and in the pleased to welcome Mdm Phang Seok Sieng as the process influence their clients to support ISCOS. new Executive Director (Development). Seok Sieng will oversee the Member Services, Human Resource With Singapore’s better than expected economic growth and Administration divisions of ISCOS. She is a veteran in 2010, many of us are in the position to give more. Prison officer and in her previous designation as Director A number of public listed companies have come forward (Rehabilitation & Reintegration division), she has extensive to join ‘Friends of ISCOS’ initiative. I encourage more experience working with aftercare agencies like SANA, companies to work with us to explore how they can rope in SACA and ISCOS. their stakeholders to contribute towards our cause. I am always mindful of ISCOS’ mission which is “to I thank all the partners of the Community Action for the promote self-esteem and economic independence in Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network, particularly ex-offenders while guiding them towards good citizenship The year 2010 was marked by many impactful events for ISCOS and the Singapore Prison Service, for their unstinting support. and good value systems.” Members who can stand on their her members. Following the successful Fundraising cum 20th anniversary I would also like to thank the Board of Directors, the Board own feet and provide for their families mark a successful Dinner in 2009, ISCOS was empowered to implement new programmes that of Trustees and our staff for their hard work and support in transformation and ISCOS is proud to be part of it. That is this journey to help reintegrate ex-offenders. why we persist in creating the positive impact, and we look target on practical needs of her members. forward to doing it even better with you. Since its inception more than 20 years ago, ISCOS has Our membership increased by over 12% in 2010 to 11,241 been operating on leased premises. This meant we members and this shows that there are still many who need Mr Andy Lim would be required to move whenever the lease expired. assistance and support after prison. ISCOS launched Chairman, ISCOS I am happy to report that ISCOS finally purchased its a new outreach programme to members using the short own modest premises at The Alexcier at the end of 2010. messaging service (SMS) platform. This interactive tool It would be a place that we can now call “home”. We marked enables the Co-operative to reach out to our members this milestone through an Office Opening ceremony in through motivational quotes, notice of job vacancies and January, and took the opportunity to thank our sponsors useful announcements of upcoming activities. There is and to share our future plans with the corporate and now another communication channel between ISCOS and community partners. its members, reminding them that ISCOS is always here to help. With employment and education as our key pillars, ISCOS continues to support our members who want to learn or In conjunction with Father’s Day, ISCOS organised a large hone their skills or further their studies.