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NORTH WEST CDC SETS ASIDE $1.5 MILLION FUND OVER 3 YEARS TO NURTURE GROUND-UP INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF A CARING COMMUNITY ______

To encourage residents to take up ownership of their community, North West Community Development Council (CDC) set aside a $1.5 million We Care @ North West Fund over three years to support 180 ground-up initiatives benefitting 120,000 residents. The We Care @ North West Fund was launched by host Dr , Mayor of North West District at the North West District Meeting 2013 on Friday, 27 September 2013 at Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre, Studio.

2 North West District Meeting 2013 was graced by the following Guests-of-Honours (GOHs) - Grassroots Advisers:

i. Mr , Minister for National Development and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang GRC (Sembawang); ii. Assoc Prof , Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transport, and MP for Nee Soon GRC (Nee Soon Central); iii. Mr , PBM, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (Zhenghua); iv. Dr , PBM, MP for Nee Soon GRC (Canberra); and v. Mr Patrick Tay, BBM, MP for Nee Soon GRC (Nee Soon East) 3 Dr Teo Ho Pin said, “Through the support of our stakeholders, the North West CDC organised close to 600 events in Financial Year 2012 to benefit our residents. Of these, a growing number comprises ground-up efforts initiated by passionate residents and volunteers. As part of the CDC’s focus on building up the capacities and capabilities of volunteers, we are setting aside $1.5 million towards a new We Care @ North West Fund. Through the fund, we aim to empower our stakeholders and partners with the means to organise meaningful projects and take ownership of the community.”

4 The We Care @ North West Fund was a new initiative under the North West CDC to provide passionate individuals and organisations with support to organise meaningful programmes that benefit the community. Besides providing funds to applicants, the CDC would also extend projects management expertise and advice, aggregate community resources and connect relevant partners together to support and build up on these initiatives. Over the next three years, the CDC would set aside $1.5 million to support 180 ground-up initiatives benefitting 120,000 residents.

5 In the area of promoting community ownership and rallying the community to spearhead ground-up initiatives, the North West CDC has developed a slew of community support funding over the years to empower community stakeholders like schools, VWOs, youth groups and other non- government organisations to implement programmes that benefit the district's residents. One of the findings from Our Singapore Conversations (OSC) highlighted the need to foster a passion among our people to contribute to common good and to take ownership for ourselves and our communities. The We Care @ North West Fund supports the OSC findings by realising ground- up initiatives and through the process, nurturing community leaders and fostering community give-back, self-help and compassionate meritocracy.

6 Besides the CDC’s focus on developing volunteerism, Mayor Teo also shared at the district meeting four other key focus areas in strengthening social support services, championing environmental responsibility, promoting and integrating community health and caring for the silver community. Mayor Teo and the GOHs also engaged the stakeholders through a forum to gather ideas and feedback on building a caring and healthy community.