A total of 35 ISCOS members and their families gathered at East Coast Park on a Sunday morning on 19 June 2022 for another session of beach-cleaning activity.
PAST EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
2022
Leadership Changes at ISCOS Board of Directors
We bade farewell to Mr Daniel Teo who passed the baton to Mr Sallim Bin Abdul Kadir as the new Chairman of ISCOS Board of Directors, with effect from 1 June 2022.
2021 Annual Reports
We are pleased to present the latest 2021 Annual Report for both ISCOS and ISCOS ReGen Fund – “Journeying With Friends”
ISCOS 32nd Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) was successfully held virtually on 27 May 2022. During the meeting, ISCOS Chairman Mr Daniel Teo shared about the co-operative’s accomplishments in 2021 and future plans going forward.
Hello, Fitrah!
On 13 May 2022, we welcomed friends from Family and Inmates Throughcare Assistance Haven (Fitrah) to explore how our organisations may come together to support the community.
Titans Sharing: Jabez and Azhar
It’s great to be able to resume in-person Titans sharing, once again!
Changi Beach Clean Up
On a nice Saturday morning (26 February 2022), some members from the ISCOS support group came together for our beach cleaning activity at Changi.
Wrapping Up 2021 with ISCOS Appreciation Event
Anchored by the theme ‘Celebrating Friends’, this virtual event on 22 December 2021 was a time to show our appreciation to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, Titans, working partners and stakeholders who have extended their friendships and support to us.
The Conversation
Aimed at debunking misconceptions surrounding ex-offenders, we are want to share with you CONVERSATION, our latest awareness project where we gathered some from the ISCOS community, including our ISCOS Titans and staff to share their own experiences and encounters on various facets of reintegration.
2021
Leadership Changes at ISCOS Board of Trustees
On 31 August 2021, we bade farewell to Mr Chng Hwee Hong who has retired from his role as the Chairman, ISCOS Board of Trustees. Under his leadership over the past nine years, Mr Chng has been instrumental in overseeing the growth of the co-operative as well as the birth of our charity arm, ISCOS ReGen Fund in 2018.
Engaging Members through the Bi-Annual Fireside Chat
On 4 August 2021, we had 27 members joining us online for our bi-annual Fireside Chat. Other than providing updates for our programmes, it was a great opportunity to catch up and discuss issues close to their hearts.
Annual Co-Operative Leaders’ Conference (ACLC) 2021 by SNCF
On 30 July 2021, we attended the Annual Co-operative Leaders’ Conference (ACLC) 2021, one of the key events organised by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) every year.
CARE Network Summit 2021: The Next Horizon
ISCOS is happy to be part of the CARE Network Summit 2021 that took place in mid-July! Prior to the three-day virtual summit, our Titan Raymond was featured on social media to share his story and how family support played a critical part in his journey of transformation.
A Special Collaboration with Project Themis
In collaboration with Project Themis, we had three sessions of sharing on 21 April, 18 May and 29 June 2021 featuring our Titans and members.
ISCOS Annual General Meeting 2021
With the support from our members, ISCOS successfully held our 31st Annual General Meeting on 18 June 2021, going virtual for the second time since last year due the COVID-19 restrictions.
2020 Annual Report
Our Annual Report for ISCOS is out! 🙂
A Special Children Pop-Up Book by Nadiah
Named ‘Nammi’s Mummy’, Nadiah created a pop-up book that seeks to explain the rehabilitation process to children with incarcerated parents.
Spreading the Raya Festive Cheer!
In preparation for Hari Raya this year, our teams visited a total of 50 families over a span of several days to distribute ready meals, festive goodies and cash.
Learning Journey with PPIS Muslim Women’s Association
On 28 April, we conducted a Learning Journey with representatives from PPIS (Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura) or Singapore Muslim Women’s Association to share about ISCOS, ISCOS ReGen Fund and our works.
A Special Card for Our Titan
On 5 March, our Titan Muru received a special card from prison – a handwritten card by a group of inmates who attended the virtual sharing by Muru in December 2020.
Let’s do our part for the environment!
In the month of February, some of our ISCOS members came together for something meaningful – a beach cleanup!
Celebrating Chinese New Year with Goodies
On 5 February 2021, we collaborated with the kind folks from Privé Group to spread the festive cheer for Chinese New Year!
Men’s Support Group – Nice to meet you!
After a year of virtual Zoom meetings, the members from Men’s Support Group finally get to meet in person on 4 February 2021.
#ISCOSonTV
On 21 January 2021, our office was featured in one of the episodes of Mediacorp’s Channel 8 drama, Mister Flower.
2020
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR 2020!
As 2020 drew to a close, all of us at ISCOS would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who have unwaveringly stood by our cause and supported our children and families through these tough times!
We are also proud to present our latest documentary – A Life to Overcome
Filmed in collaboration with Coconuts Singapore, this is a story of courage and resilience – a story that is not uncommon to us. Hear from one of our families and our case worker Halima in this latest video!
Learning about money the gamified way during Mothers’ Support Group
A big thank-you to Diverse Learning LLP for organising a fun session for our Mothers’ Support Group on 22 December! Held at Lifelong Learning Institute, there was much laughter as the mothers who attended enjoyed themselves immensely during the facilitated board game. In the process, they also learnt more about money management and personal finances. […]
Hello Members! @ ISCOS Fireside Chat
On 21 December 2020, we held our bi-annual Fireside chat via Zoom with 32 ISCOS members to catch up with them and share updates for the coming year.
Celebrating Academic Achievement with Bursary Award Ceremony 2020
On 19 December, we held our first virtual bursary award ceremony!
Christmas Bakes for a Good Cause
In December 2020, we organised a fundraiser with delicious cakes and cookies handmade with much love by our ISCOS Titan Sabrina (Sabrina’s HomeBakes), with all proceeds from the sales going towards the Fairy Godparent Programme to support the children and families of reformed offenders. A big THANK YOU to all who have so warmly supported […]
Bringing Christmas Cheer to the Families
On 11 December 2020, we collaborated with Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow (BMWL) to bring Christmas cheer to our families – each present was even thoughtfully selected and bought by BMWL staff to make Christmas special for the children!
“Inside Singapore Airlines”: A Guided Tour
On 5 December, some of our families had the opportunity to go for ‘Inside Singapore Airlines’, a guided tour to discover more about Singapore’s national carrier!
Fundraising Drive by Caelum Junior
As part of the “Start Small, Dream Big” initiative, the teachers and children had made notebooks and bookmarks, and chosen us as the beneficiary to receive the proceeds from sales of these items!
Year-End Appreciation for Sponsors and Donors
In lieu of the annual Appreciation Dinner for our stakeholders, our team met up with sponsors and working partners to thank them for their unwavering support.
Beach Cleaning at East Coast Park
On 22 November 2020, 17 ISCOS members, families and staff came together to join the community efforts in beach cleaning at East Coast Park!
Celebrating Deepavali with Yummy Food and Goodies
On 6 November 2020, we visited eight families and delivered dinner courtesy of Casuarina Curry, some goodies and a little gift from us to celebrate the Festival of Lights
Partnership with Singapore Teochew Foundation
Singapore Teochew Foundation has been a consistent supporter of ours, sharing our belief in supporting children of reformed offenders since 2018!
We are now on Donate for Change!
We’re happy to announce that we are now on a new platform, Donate for Change! This is a micro-donation app that allows users to donate between S$1 to S$5 to their favourite charities regularly. Available for iOS and Android devices, the app encourages affordable long-term giving and creates an engaging relationship between donors and the […]
Overcoming the Odds: A Chat With Whye Kee
We’re excited for our upcoming virtual event “Overcoming the Odds: A Chat with Whye Kee”, a collaboration between ISCOS ReGen Fund and Kim Whye Kee, one of our ISCOS Titans! The event is in support of the Fairy Godparent Programme, which reaches out to the children and families of reformed offenders to prevent inter-generational offending.
Art Workshop with ArtSE
On 17 October 2020, close to 70 beneficiaries participated in an art workshop conducted by ArtSE to channel their inner creativity!
Sprucing up with Living Environment Assistance Project (LEAP)
On 10 and 11 October 2020, we roped in volunteers in shifts of five persons each to offer a home makeover to one of our families!
Our First Virtual Titans’ Sharing!
n collaboration with the Singapore National Co-Operative Federation, we held our very first virtual Titan Sharing with over 200 students (6 classes) from Commonwealth Secondary School on 14 September 2020!
My Family And The Digital World: Virtual Tri-Event
We had a wonderful Virtual Tri-Event with our beneficiaries on 6 September 2020!
Youth Engagement Platform – Virtual Escape Room
We never knew a Virtual Escape Room could be so much fun – thank you Influence Solutions and Wendy for putting together an engaging “Licence to Thrill” session for our youth beneficiaries on 27 August 2020!
Titan Sharing – A Very Special Visit
We thank Singapore Prison Service for the opportunity to have our Titan Muru and member Rudie do a sharing in prison!
Birthday Home Visits
Elbow bumps are the new handshakes! In August, we had a wonderful time visiting homes and celebrating birthdays with our beneficiaries!
Family Steady Pack Distribution: Round Two
From late August to early September, we delivered another round of Family Steady Packs (FSP) to 105 families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each pack contained items such as grocery vouchers, masks, hand sanitisers and financial assistance.
Supporting Each Other Online – GAP Support Group
We had a good catch up with our GAP support group attendees during the monthly GAP sessions!
30th Annual General Meeting
We successfully conducted our 30th Annual General Meeting held online for the first time!
Dream Big at our Virtual Family Day 2020!
On 26 July 2020, more than 300 participants (80 families) eagerly participated in the activities held on Zoom as part of our very first Virtual Family Day – this included quizzes, tote bag painting and clay making.
ISCOS ReGen Fund 2nd Annual General Meeting
We recently held our second Annual General Meeting!
#StaySteady In The Time Of COVID-19
In light of the struggles we all now facee during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have initiated an online fundraising campaign named “Rebuild Lives Amidst COVID-19” on Giving.sg from April to June 2020 to help our beneficiaries tide over this difficult period.
Drawing Sessions with Project Concordia
Back by popular demand after the first drawing workshop on 18 June 2020, student volunteers from Project Concordia held a second drawing workshop with our beneficiaries on 20 July 2020.
Virtual Drawing Workshop with Project Concordia
One of our partners, Project Concordia of Hwa Chong Institution, hosted a lively Zoom drawing session for our beneficiaries on 18 June 2020.
New Donation Boxes – Thank you Privé!
Thank you very much Privé Group for working with us and letting us set up more donation boxes in Privé outlets
“Lessons From Everest” with David Lim
In support of Project ‘Give A Line, Change A Life’, we collaborated with Mr David Lim to host our first ever virtual webinar on 12 June 2020!
(Contactless) Birthday Celebrations!
Even though we are all staying and working from home, it doesn’t mean we forget to celebrate birthdays!
Apart, But Certainly Not Alone – Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
This year, we celebrated Hari Raya in a different manner – our team prepared, packed and (contactlessly) delivered special Hari Raya packs to 30 families during the time of Ramadan in May 2020.
Staying In Touch Virtually
In the spirit of maintaining safe social distancing, we turned to technology to help us stay in touch and bring us closer with members and beneficiaries.
Kindness in Times of Need
Our generous friends from Cozy Bedding donated two brand-new foldable mattresses, while others contributed items such as bedsheets, clothing and groceries to one of our beneficiaries in need.
Standing Together Against COVID-19
Amid the measures put in place across Singapore to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, ISCOS remains committed to ensuring that our members are able to receive care and support.
More Ways to Give – New Donation Boxes
Special thanks to Konditori, Kor Kai, Unyangkordai SG and The Living Well for graciously offering us the space to raise awareness and funds for our cause through donation boxes!
We Are On Giving.sg!
Remember the ‘Project Give A Line, Change A Life’ which we successfully launched last year? It is one of our recent initiatives to bring digital connectivity to newly released ex-offenders, particularly those who have served over three years of imprisonment. The support comes in the form of a new smart phone with six-months unlimited data […]
HUAT AH! Celebrating Chinese New Year with our beneficiaries
On 17 January 2020, we had a blast at the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration with our beneficiaries!
SNCF x HIHS Learning Journey to ISCOS
On 16 January, we were happy to host the ‘SNCF x HIHS Learning Journey to ISCOS’
Bringing Birthday Joy to the Children
Prior to the ‘Circuit Breaker’, we went around to the homes of several of our beneficiaries to celebrate their children’s birthdays with them.
2019
Launch of ISCOS Mobile App and Project Give A Line, Change A Life
On 9 December 2019, we jointly launched the ISCOS Mobile App, and Project ‘Give A Line, Change A Life’ in an effort to help our beneficiaries to be more digitally connected and adapted to new technology.
Closer collaborations with Singapore Prison Service
Throughout the year, ISCOS has been working closely with Singapore Prison Service (SPS) to initiate several support and outreach programmes to meet the specific needs of various groups of inmates to better ease their transition from in-care to aftercare support, as a critical part of their reintegration.
ISCOS Bursary Award Ceremony
On December 21st 2019, we came together to celebrate the academic achievements of our beneficiaries!
ISCOS Fireside Chat
In December 2019, we held a heartfelt sharing session between us and our members, as we worked together to continue making our programmes and services relevant to their needs.
Celebrating Christmas with Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
On 7 December 2019, we held a Christmas Celebration to bring some Christmas joy to our beneficiaries!
ISCOS Strategic Retreat – Pause and Reflect
We believe in the power of taking a moment to pause and self-reflect. On 29 November 2019, we gathered together with some of our stakeholders and friends to review, reflect and realign our focus and strategic direction for the coming years.
A Double Celebration
On 9 November 2019, staff and volunteers came together to give a beneficiary’s home a fresh coat of paint – A few days later on 14 November, we went back to the same house to celebrate a birthday!
Titan Feature: WIN-LadiesFirst-WEC Scholarship Award Ceremony
Our Titan, Sabrina, was invited to share her story at the WIN-LadiesFirst-WEC Scholarship Awards ceremony with the student recipients on 22 October 2019!
Coming Together for the SNCF Book Launch
We were honoured to have our Titan, Muru, quoted in the book “Singapore Co-operatives, Singapore Stories” by the Singapore National Co-Operative Federation (SNCF). At the book launch on 18 October 2019, Muru received a copy on-stage from President Halimah Yacob.
Deepavali Celebrations with Beneficiaries
On 18 October 2019, we enjoyed ourselves immensely celebrating Deepavali with our beneficiaries at iCosy Hub.
Celebrating Second Chances
Congratulations to our ISCOS Titans and members who received the Yellow Ribbon Celebrating Second Chances Awards on 12 October 2019, we are proud of how far you’ve come!
Night of Stars at the ISCOS Appreciation Dinner
The ISCOS ‘Night of Stars’ Appreciation Dinner was conducted on 11 October 2019, in which we took the time to honour our sponsors, working partners and volunteers, who are the ‘stars’ of ISCOS.
Titans’ Sharing at James Cook University
Thank you, James Cook University, for having us at the symposium on 17 September 2019!
Visit the Prison with ISCOS
On 17 September 2019, we had a meaningful “Visit the Prison with ISCOS” event to host a selected group of friends to tour the prison facilities and understand the rehabilitation efforts.
Happy Birthday, Children!
Our September babies had an awesome time at a birthday party held just for them, generously hosted by FIKA Swedish Café and Bistro!
Team ISCOS – Running for Second Chances
We were happy to run as a team at the annual Yellow Ribbon Prison Run on 15 September 2019 to show our support for the cause.
PAssion Run with the Families
Courtesy of Chubb Insurance Singapore Limited, 44 parents and children participated in the POSB PAssion Run for Kids 2019 on 15 September 2019.
It’s Angry Bird Day!
A total of 35 children and families watched “The Angry Birds Movie 2” on 14 September 2019 at Kallng Leisure Park, kindly organised by M1.
Sharing is Caring!
We’ve been out and about! On 26 July 2019, we were invited to be part of the Sands for Singapore Giving Marketplace to share about our work with the staff of Marina Bay Sands. We were also honoured to be part of the Conversations on Youth 2019 on 9 September 2019, a bi-annual event organised […]
ISCOS 30th Anniversary Charity Gala
On 5 September 2019, we celebrated 30 years of service at the ISCOS 30th Anniversary Charity Gala at Marina Mandarin Hotel. During the event, history was made when we officially launched the ISCOS ReGen Fund (IRF), a new charity to further the cause close to our hearts. It was an unforgettable night with President Halimah Yacob […]
Understanding Each Other’s Needs: Tri-Event 2
Based on the theme ‘Setting Boundaries to Fly’, the second Tri-Event of the year was held on 31 August 2019 at the Lifelong Learning Institute. We had over 80 parents, youths and children learning from their respective workshops on how to effectively relate to their loved ones. After lunch, the families came together to bond […]
Learning Journey with ISCOS
We hosted over 20 Correctional Rehabilitation Specialists from Singapore Prison Service at our office for a Learning Journey with ISCOS on 16 August 2019. During the session, we shared about the different programmes and services by ISCOS and ISCOS ReGen Fund, followed by some lively interactions involving our staff, Titans and the audience to help […]
Splashin’ fun at ISCOS Family Day
The day dawned bright and clear on 29 June 2019 for our ISCOS Family Day! Much laughter ensued throughout the day as participants of all ages enjoyed themselves at Adventure Cove Waterpark, from the kickoff at Bluwater Bay to the tele-matches and incentive games specially prepared for our beneficiaries to spend precious family time together. […]
Purposeful bonding with our youths
It was all fun and laughter at our monthly Youth Engagement Platform (YEP) sessions! In April, our youths showcased their creativity by designing tote bags for themselves. In May, they gathered for a music jamming session at Music Brio Studio with one of our ISCOS ambassadors Sara Wee. After a good dinner, the group went […]
ISCOS Fireside Chat (June 2019)
Amid much laughter, we had a heartfelt catch-up and discussion with members who came for our bi-yearly ISCOS Fireside Chat session on 26 June 2019. During the session, we provided updates on new initiatives and also gathered feedback on how to better meet their needs. The Fireside Chat is one of the multiple touchpoints for […]
ReConnect with tech: Collaboration with Hwa Chong students
During a Project ReConnect session on 11 June 2019, we were happy to have students from Hwa Chong Institution on board with us. As part of their initiative Project Concordia, the students shared tech-related tips with participants, and taught them about useful mobile apps, social media and even on how to identify fake news with […]
Breaking fast together at Fika
In partnership with Fika Swedish Café & Bistro, we held our first iftar (breaking of fast) event with our beneficiaries! We were also honoured to have our Special Guest Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health, to join us for this event. With a sumptuous meal, a special […]
ISCOS Annual General Meeting 2019
We concluded our 29th Annual General Meeting at Heartbeat@Bedok on 24 May 2019. During the meeting, we shared with our members the accomplishments in 2018, as well as our future plans and directions to further support members and their families. The highlight for the evening was the cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate our 30th Anniversary this […]
Titans Sharing with Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
We thank Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) for the warm welcome on 22 May 2019! The Secondary One students who gathered paid rapt attention as we shared about the work that we do, while our ISCOS Titans spoke about their own transformational stories. Through sessions like these, we hoped that we have brought some new […]
Getting savvy at iSavvy Workshop
In keeping our members informed and updated with technological trends and current affairs, we held a special “iSavvy Workshop” on 11 May 2019. At the workshop, participants learnt new things such as setting up new email accounts, making PayNow transactions and even ways to identify fake news. We hope that these will come in handy […]
Growing together as a family
On 14 April 2019, we kicked off our first Tri-event of the year! Held at the Lifelong Learning Institute, 100 parents, youth and children attended the series of workshops entitled “Habits of Successful People”. Through hands-on activities in their respective age groups and family members, they picked up tips on how to improve themselves as […]
ISCOS ReGen Fund collaborates with Singapore Teochew Foundation
On 3 April 2019, our charity fund ISCOS ReGen Fund (IRF) inked a donation agreement with the Singapore Teochew Foundation (STF). For the second year running, STF will sponsor specific programmes for children of reformed offenders from low-income families under the Fairy Godparent Programme. This includes sponsorship for tuition, art therapy sessions and the Learning […]
Create Your Own Comic Book Workshop
It was really fun to have a special “Create your own comic book” workshop with our young beneficiaries on 24 March 2019, conducted by Difference Engine, a Singapore-based independent comics publishing house. Those who came had a great time getting creative and drawing out the stories they wanted to tell, with the help of the […]
Prison Staff Learning Journey with ISCOS
It was our pleasure to host over 40 staff from Singapore Prison Service (SPS) at a ‘Prison Learning Journey with ISCOS’ on 29 March 2019. During the sessions, we shared about different programmes and services we offer so that they could share the same with the inmates under their care. To liven up the presentation, […]
Titans’ Sharing with Fajar Secondary School, National University of Singapore and Tampines Meridian Junior College
It was definitely a busy quarter for the Titans – we had not one, but three sharing sessions with students from Fajar Secondary School, National University of Singapore and Tampines Meridian Junior College in January, February and March respectively. We thank our ISCOS Titans Jabez, Azhar, Bob, Isaac, Rasheed and Muru, as well as all […]
Visit the Prison with ISCOS 2019
In collaboration with Singapore Prison Service (SPS), we held a successful “Visit the Prison with ISCOS” on 14 March 2019. This exclusive event was held to engage friends and supporters of ISCOS by shedding light on life behind bars, as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts by SPS, SCORE and ISCOS. In addition to […]
Gong Xi Fa Cai! CNY Festive Celebration with ISCOS
As the saying goes, sharing is caring! We visited our beneficiaries’ homes with groceries to bring them some festive cheer in preparation for the Lunar New Year. We also had a festive get-together with our members and their families on 16 February 2019 at the ISCOS iCosy Hub. After a warm welcome, everybody had fun […]
Launch of iCosy Hub
We were thrilled to launch our iCosy Hub on 25 January 2019! It was a morning filled with warmth and laughter as we officially opened this new dedicated space in a simple ceremony graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Amrin Amin in the presence of our sponsors, working partners and guests. We were pleased to introduce new […]
2018
Celebrating Academic Achievements at ISCOS Bursary Awards Ceremony 2018
At the Bursary Awards Ceremony on 14 December 2018, we were happy to witness our student beneficiaries receive their hard-earned rewards on stage for persevering in their studies. This was also a record-breaking year for ISCOS, with over 310 recipients from the primary, secondary and tertiary levels receiving the bursary awards and book grants. In […]
Love Is Working Things Out Together – FGP Tri-Event 3
Our beneficiaries enjoyed themselves and learnt much at our third and final Tri-Event held on 22 September 2018. With over 80 parents, youth and children in attendance, the day began at the TKP Conference Centre with workshops for each respective group to further learn about expressing familial love under the annual theme ‘Love’. The children […]
Drawings of Love – Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition
Congratulations to our beneficiaries whose works of art were showcased in this year’s Yellow Ribbon Community Art Exhibition! Held at Raffles City on 21 September 2018, the children were thrilled to see their drawings of love, hope and aspirations on display, as they eagerly awaited the arrival of Guest-of-Honour President Halimah Yacob. It was definitely […]
Running to Support Second Chances – Yellow Ribbon Run
Photo credits: Lianhe Zaobao On 9 September 2018, four of our members represented ISCOS in the Yellow Ribbon Run under the 5.6 km “Road to Acceptance” category. This category is a new initiative introduced this year that featured teams of ex-offenders from halfway houses and other aftercare agencies such as ISCOS. have a glimpse at […]
WE CAN – ‘More Than Words’ Book Launch by Tan Chin Tuan Foundation
On 4 September 2018, we were happy to attend the launch of the 5th edition of ‘More Than Words’ book titled “WE CAN – Create, Contribute, Care, Connect, Cherish” at the National Library. ‘More Than Words’ is a signature programme by Tan Chin Tuan Foundation which seeks to promote creative literacy, potentially inspiring and equipping […]
ISCOS Welcomes New Executive Director
Ms Doris Ng recently joined ISCOS as the newly appointed Executive Director with effect from 3 September 2018. Prior to joining ISCOS, Ms Ng had been with Singapore Prison Service for over 17 years and had taken up appointments like Assistant Commander, Programme in Cluster A and Assistant Commander, Staff Development in Cluster B. She […]
ISCOS Directors Receive National Day Awards
(From left to right: Ms Shie Yong Lee, Ms Staphnie Tang) We would like to extend our congratulations to Ms Shie Yong Lee and Ms Staphnie Tang for receiving the National Day Awards in August this year. Ms Shie was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while Ms Tang […]
Love Is Doing Things Together – FGP Tri-Event 2
Our beneficiaries had a fun-filled session at the second Tri-event on 21 July 2018! Held at the Allspice Institute, the day began with a family bonding activity of baking (delicious desserts) or cooking (sumptuous bento lunch). Everyone enjoyed this activity immensely – some family members worked on the recipes side-by-side while other parents patiently guided […]
Meeting Members at the ISCOS Fireside Chat
It was a timely catch up with 13 members on 19 July 2018 at the bi-annual Fireside Chat, where we talked about new and upcoming ISCOS initiatives. Members shared freely about their own support systems (families, friends and community) and how they could support fellow ex-offenders, as well as the impact of technology on their […]
Bowling Fun with Men’s Support Group
On 9 July 2018, the Men’s Support Group had a fun outing together with their friends and family members for a great night of bowling at West Coast Recreational Centre. It was an enjoyable and light-hearted evening, with everyone happily unwinding after a hard day at work. Occasions like these are one of the many […]
Introducing…The Humans of ISCOS
ISCOS has always been inspired by the many people from all walks of life we’ve had the pleasure of meeting every day. This is because we share a common belief in second chances, especially in helping ex-offenders and families rebuild their lives. In collaboration with The Everyday People, we are pleased to present a series […]
A Day Out with Family – ISCOS Family Day 2018
It was all fun and laughter at the ISCOS Family Day on 30 June 2018! Held at the Singapore Zoo this year, the highlight of this annual event was the Amazing Race flagged off by our Guest of Honour Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Communications and Information. […]
ISCOS Parents’ Day a.k.a. Mother’s and Father’s Day
What strengthens kinship ties between family members is the constant giving of love and care in the little things, as well as the reassurance of family support. In celebration of Mother’s and Father’s Day this year, we asked our beneficiaries to write what they love about their parents, and the responses were forthright and heart-warming. […]
Engaging, Encouraging and Supporting Youths
This year, the Youth Support Platform (YSP) was set up as a new Fairy Godparent Programme initiative to engage our youths through experiential learning and pro-social activities. We hope that this offers a safe space for them to share problems and solutions, while feeling a sense of belonging. On 26 April 2018, Artify Studio graciously […]
A Lively Sharing Session with Students
In collaboration with Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF), ISCOS hosted a group of students from Holy Innocents’ High School on 24 May 2018 for a special sharing session. The students paid rapt attention to better understand what ISCOS does through its programmes and services. Inquisitive and engaged, they were also captivated by the real, interesting […]
Welcoming New Directors on Board
Clockwise from left: Mr Chow Chee Kin, Ms Jenny Tsin, Mr Soon Yong Kwee, Mr Jonathan Tan ISCOS is pleased to welcome four new members to the ISCOS Board of Directors! They are: Mr Chow Chee Kin (appointed on 20 May 2018) – Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) Ms Jenny […]
ISCOS Annual General Meeting 2018
We concluded our 28th Annual General Meeting on 11 May 2018 at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability. During the meeting, we shared with our members the accomplishments in 2017 as well as our future plans and directions to further support our beneficiaries. We would like to thank all members who took time […]
#ProjectHappyScoop: Have A Sweet Treat for A Good Cause!
On 5 May 2018, Lickety and ISCOS got together to launch Project Happy Scoop! A meaningful collaboration between the two organisations, Lickety has pledged to give a free scoop of ice cream to our young beneficiaries with every customer purchase from 5 May to 4 June 2018. The month-long campaign were supported by customers with […]
Sharing Session at YMCA Dinner Talk Series
As part of Dinner Talk series by International Y’s Men Club of Singapore (Beta Chapter), the Metropolitan YMCA Singapore invited ISCOS on 29 April 2018 to share about our social cause. During the session, we spoke about our members and beneficiaries, as well as the programmes and services offered to support them. We are indeed […]
Happy Birthday Children!
We celebrated the birthday for April babies on 17 April 2018, with the party kindly sponsored by T-Touch, FIKA Swedish Café & Bistro and SNAP Balloon & Party Services. With the generous provision of good food, balloon sculpting and games, everyone had a great time! We also had much fun with the two other birthday […]
Visit The Prison with ISCOS 2018
In collaboration with Singapore Prison Service, we held a special “Visit the Prison with ISCOS” event on 28 March 2018. Aimed at engaging friends and supporters of ISCOS, the exclusive event shed light on life behind bars, as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts by the Singapore Prison Services (SPS), SCORE and ISCOS. From […]
Kids, It’s Your Birthday!
Starting this year, we launched a new birthday party initiative under the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) to celebrate with the children every month, as one of the many ways to care for them. Here are some highlights from the March celebration: We had an amazing time with the birthday boys and girls, where children and […]
Taking the First Step to become Effective Mentors
Over the course of two Saturdays (3 and 10 March 2018), 22 volunteers from different walks of life came together to learn how to be effective mentors to our members and beneficiaries. Eager to learn how to best support them, the volunteers asked many questions in a lively interaction with ISCOS staff. A big thank-you […]
All You Need Is Love: Fairy Godparent Programme Tri-Event #1
On 10 March 2018, we held this year’s first Tri-Event at PSB Academy. The 86 participants were divided into their respective groups (parents, youths and children) for the workshops relevant to them. Based on the theme of Love, participants learnt about the five love languages, and ways to present their love for one another such […]
Washing Cars for Charity
On 3 March 2018, we were delighted to partner with Compassvale Coris RC in the Sengkang Central Charity Car Wash to raise funds for students from less fortunate families within the neighbourhood. Held at North Vista Primary School, our ISCOS members and their friends were enthusiastic and showed tremendous initiative in thoroughly washing and drying […]
ISCOS Titans: Purposeful Sharing with AJC Students
In collaboration with the Singapore National Co-Operative Federation (SNCF) and Anderson Junior College (AJC), two of our ISCOS Titans (Mohamed Rasheed and Murugason) were invited to share their experiences with a group of AJC students during a special learning journey last Saturday. The students paid rapt attention as our Titans touched on the pain and […]
Advocating Lifelong Learning with MDIS
Albert Einstein once said, “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” With a strong belief in the importance of lifelong learning for our members, ISCOS collaborated with the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) to run a mini roadshow on 24 January 2018. Held at the ISCOS […]
Mentor-Mentee Bonding Over Bowling
Our FGP mentors and mentees enjoyed themselves immensely at the Big Group Activity on 13 January 2018. Bonding over bowling and lunch at Kallang Bowl and Leisure Park, the activities provided plenty of opportunities for them to have a great time together through play. This outing also marked the wrap-up for the 2017 mentoring programme, […]
2017
Celebrating Achievements at ISCOS Bursary Award Ceremony
On 22 December 2017, ISCOS celebrated the academic achievements of 133 students by rewarding them for their hard work and perseverance at its annual Bursary Award Ceremony. With Mr Amrin Amin as the Guest of Honour, the recipients received their awards onstage amid applause from their families at the MDIS Auditorium at Stirling Road. A […]
Skating Fun with M1
On 16 December 2017, some 40 of our beneficiaries had a wonderful time at the Kallang Ice World! Thanks to M1 who sponsored this special outing, they enjoyed themselves very much with the family. For some, it was their first time on ice while others were happily gliding across the skating rink after the warm-up […]
Catching up with Members at the ISCOS Fireside Chat
On 13 December 2017, we had a great time catching up with some of our members at the bi-annual Fireside Chat, where we had a purposeful conversation on important topics such as family bonding and sustaining employment. Our members also gave valuable feedback that will go a long way towards improving our programmes and services. […]
Basking in The Spirit of Giving at City House
Our beneficiaries were given a special treat at the Christmas Gift of Love@City House on 7 December 2017. After being serenaded by a series of Christmas carols, over 30 children under the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) were truly delighted to receive beautifully-wrapped gifts, each containing an item on their wishlist. We sincerely thank our partner, […]
ISCOS Titans in the Making
On 2 December 2017, some of our ISCOS Titans came together to learn useful tips about public speaking. Facilitated by our volunteer Jessica Dang from Soundway Learning Group, our Titans enjoyed learning the skills needed to share their stories more confidently and purposefully. Thank you Jessica for making the time and effort to conduct this […]
Advocating Hope at ISCOS Appreciation Dinner 2017
It was indeed heart-warming to gather with our partners, donors and volunteers to honour their support, as well as to celebrate how far our beneficiaries have come at the annual ISCOS Appreciation Dinner on 10 November 2017. This year, we have chosen the theme of ‘HOPE’, as it is a powerful notion which perfectly encapsulates […]
Teeing Off for a Good Cause – Charity Golf and Dinner 2017
On 3 November 2017, ISCOS held a Charity Golf and Dinner event at Orchid Country Club to raise funds for the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), our flagship programme dedicated to support children and families of ex-offenders. With everyone in high spirits, the golf game commenced at 1.15pm sharp followed by a sumptuous dinner at the […]
Seeing Crystal Clear on World Vision Day
In support of World Vision Day, Essilor Vision Screening Foundation (ASEAN) held free eye screening tests for our Fairy Godparent Programme beneficiaries on 12 October 2017. During the event at the premises of The Helping Hand, spectacles were also provided to them where needed and instructions for follow-up appointments were given. We thank Essilor Vision […]
LEAP-ing Together with Goldbell
We are grateful to have volunteers from Goldbell with us over two Saturdays (7 and 14 October 2017) to help spruce up two houses with a fresh coat of paint and new study corners. These events are part of the LEAP (Learning Environment Assistance Project) sessions where we believe in providing conducive home learning environments […]
Mr Amrin Amin Visits ISCOS Office
On 4 October 2017, we were glad to receive Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) when he visited the ISCOS office at Alexandra Road. The purpose of the visit was for us to offer an overview of ISCOS’ programmes and services, particularly the job placement services for ex-offenders. You […]
Launch of Project ReConnect
Project ReConnect was recently featured in The Sunday Times on 10 September 2017! One of ISCOS’ latest initiatives, this is a structured orientation programme for ex-offenders who have spent three years or longer in prison to familiarise themselves with the rapidly-changing landscape and trends in Singapore. A typical session begins with a simple briefing on important […]
Tri-Event Workshops for the Entire Family to Enjoy
On 9 September 2017, 26 families under the Fairy Godparent Programme attended our third Tri-event, a series of theme-based family workshops in 2017. The event was supported by 14 volunteers from PayPal. Participants in the various workshops for parents, youth and children found the skills taught to them very relevant and applicable. In particular, parents […]
“More Than Words” Book Launch by Tan Chin Tuan Foundation
Some of our children under the Fairy Godparent Programme were invited to a special book launch at the Enabling Village on 2 September 2017. This was held under the More Than Words programme, a signature work by the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation. While the 11 children and 6 adults who went enjoyed the storytelling and […]
Movie Screening for FGP Beneficiaries – VROOM VROOM!
Over 30 beneficiaries of the Fairy Godparent Programme gathered for a special movie screening of Disney/Pixar’s Cars 3 on 2 September 2017. It was indeed a great time for the families to bond with each other over a good show and movie snacks. Thank you, M1 for sponsoring this event and making their day!
Welcome, new ISCOS Volunteers!
We held an orientation event for 26 of our new ISCOS volunteers on 28 August 2017. During the session, we introduced them to the Programmes and Services offered by ISCOS and the relevant volunteering opportunities. Despite coming from many different walks of life, they shared a common enthusiasm and passion for what ISCOS had to […]
WSQ Training Course Briefing for ISCOS Members
On 3 August 2017, we had a briefing specially arranged for our members to find out more about the Professional Diploma courses under the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework. During this session, members are briefed about the Professional Diploma in Leadership and People Management (WSQ Level 4) and its various modules such as innovations, capability […]
Launch of Father Support Group
Recognising that family support is one of the crucial steps towards successful reintegration, we believe that parenting plays a huge part in creating happy families. Fathers have a vital role to play in nurturing their children and for this reason, we started the Fathers’ Support Group. To make sure we start off on the right […]
Mentors and Mentees Bond Through Games of Laser Tag
It was a fun day for our volunteer mentors and their mentees at the second Big Group Activity held on 29 July 2017. This was part of the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) mentoring initiative. Held at The Cage @ Kallang, a total of 15 mentors and their mentees sweat the day out playing laser tag. […]
ISCOS Family Day 2017 – A Fun Day at ORTO
We had so much fun at the ISCOS Family Day on 15 July 2017! Themed “Adventurer@The Park”, the carnival-like event at ORTO engaged close to 300 parents, children and family members to spend a good time of family bonding in a light-hearted manner. The fun event was graced by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang, Member […]
Project ReUnite: Coming Together Once More
“A family doesn’t need to be perfect; it just need to be UNITED.” ~ Anonymous In the spirit of this saying, ISCOS piloted its very first session of Project ReUnite, a brand new initiative to help bring about the much-needed reconciliation between inmates and their immediate family members through a special ‘Welcome Home’ programme on […]
ISCOS is now officially a disbursing agency for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF or “Fund”)
Starting from 1 July 2017, ISCOS becomes one of the disbursing agencies for STSPMF, a community project initiated by The Straits Times in 2000 to provide pocket money to children from low-income families to help them through school. The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund has disbursed more than $55 million since its inception and helped over 150,000 […]
Doing LEAP with NETS
We had a successful LEAP on 16 June 2017! With the help of eleven volunteers from NETS, we helped a family transform their living space into a more conducive study area for the children. Armed with paints and brushes and a giving heart, the volunteers sweated and got their hands dirty for this full day […]
The CARE Network Workplan Seminar 2017
ISCOS was glad to take part in the CARE Network Workplan Seminar held on 26 May 2017 at Sheraton Hotel. Banking on this year’s theme, “Connect. Collaborate. Co-create – Beyond Aftercare”, the event was an annual platform to engage CARE Network partners and share with them the workplan, trends, and challenges in the aftercare sector. […]
ISCOS Fireside Chat
It was great to catch up with some of our members during the Fireside Chat held on 22 June 2017, where we had a fruitful discussion and sharing over topics such as the importance of having positive communities and parent support systems. We also gathered very useful feedback from the members, in a continuous bid […]
ISCOS 27th Annual General Meeting – Full House!
We concluded our 27th Annual General Meeting on the evening of 22 May 2017 held at the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) auditorium. During the meeting, we shared with our members the accomplishments in 2016 as well as our future plans and directions to further support our members and beneficiaries. Once again, ISCOS would like to […]
ISCOS Members Lend Time and Energy in Charity Car Wash
ISCOS was happy to be part of the Sengkang Central Charity Car Wash 2017 organised by Compassvale Coris RC on 20 May 2017. The event was an annual initiative by the RC to help raise funds for the less fortunate families within Sengkang Central. Responding to the call, our member Jabez roped in seven of […]
Learning Leadership at the FGP Tri-event
Under the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), three workshops for the children, youth beneficiaries, and their parents were conducted at the Singapore Management University premises on 20 May 2017. About 70 participants attended the session from 10am to 3pm with “Leadership” as its main theme. The Saturday event was the second leg of the 2017 tri-event series […]
All Abuzz at ISCOS Mini Job Fair 2017
On 28 April 2017, ISCOS organised a Mini Job Fair to assist our members in finding a suitable job or better employment and offering an additional source of income for those who are currently employed. We are grateful for the support of the employers who participated in the event – Popeye’s, JQ Manpower Solutions and […]
A Fun and Unique ISCOS Support Group Outing
The first quarterly ISCOS Support Group Outing for 2017 was held on 1 April 2017 at Ngee Ann Poly’s Dialogue in the Dark premises. This time around, our members had a unique experience navigating in an environment in complete darkness with the help of guides who are partially blind. It was indeed a fresh kind […]
Visit the Prison with ISCOS!
As part of the continuous engagement with our friends and supporters, we had a special “Visit the Prison with ISCOS” event earlier this week to offer an insightful experience to the lives behind bars, plus an overview of the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), SCORE and ISCOS. The visitors were […]
ISCOS Welcomes New Executive Director
We bade farewell to Mr Patrick Ng, ISCOS’ Executive Director on 28 February 2017. Mr Ng is a senior prison officer who had served the co-operative for more than three years and now returned to the Singapore Prison Service upon completion of his service term with ISCOS. With effect from 1 March 2017, Madam Lisa […]
WHAT’S NEW? Tan Ean Kiam-YRF-ISCOS Bursary Awards
Starting from January 2017, ISCOS is pleased to launch the Tan Ean Kiam-Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Bursary Award! Fully sponsored by the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation, this is a new initiative under the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) to motivate deserving FGP beneficiaries from low-income families in their pursuit of tertiary education. A total of $100,000 have […]
School Talk Collaboration with Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
With the aim to create awareness of the challenges faced by ex-offenders and how to help them, ISCOS was invited by Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) to give a school talk to its students on 21 March 2017. During the session, we roped in one of our ISCOS Motivators, Nelson, to share his heartfelt experiences […]
First Big Group Activity for 2017
After completing the Mentors’ Training, our volunteer mentors finally met with our FGP beneficiaries for the first time on 18 March 2017. Close to 50 participants came for this year’s matching activity held at OnePeople.sg in Toa Payoh. To break the ice between the newly matched mentors and mentees, various games and activities were conducted […]
Fairy Godparent Programme’s First Tri-Event in 2017 A Great Success
We kick-started the first of the three FGP workshop series in 2017 for our children, youth and their parents on 27 February 2017. It was a successful turn out with close to 60 participants attended the event. Held at The Verge, the workshops focused on positive and mindful communication for the youths, experiential learning for […]
2016
ISCOS Workplan Retreat
Striving for continuous improvement in the quality of our work in ISCOS, all staff came together and participated in the ISCOS Workplan Retreat on 26 and 27 October 2016. The Workplan Retreat is an annual event to reflect on the actual achievements in the current year and how we could do better in 2017. There […]
Goldbell-YRF-ISCOS Bursary Awards 2016
For the second year running, ISCOS joined hands with Goldbell Foundation to award over $63,000 worth of bursaries to 193 underprivileged yet deserving students at the Goldbell-Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Bursary Award presentation ceremony held on 9 December 2016 at OnePeople.SG. Goldbell Foundation is the sole sponsor for the awards this year. The awards were presented […]
ISCOS Appreciation Dinner
The 2016 ISCOS Appreciation Dinner for our partners and volunteers was held on 11 November at the Singapore Hilton. Themed as ‘The Oscar’s Night’, it was a night filled with glitter and glamour with our guests specially dressed up for the occasion. During the event, ISCOS paid tribute to 30 volunteers and 10 corporate partners […]
A Day of Fun Learning at Gardens By The Bay with RecruitFirst
As a school holiday treat for our children under the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), the kind folks from RecruitFirst Singapore organised a fun day to Gardens by the Bay on 19 November 2016. Guided by RecruitFirst volunteers, close to 40 children enjoyed the tour to the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, while learning interesting […]
An Ice Skating Adventure for FGP Mentors and Mentees
On 19 November 2016, we organised a special outing for a group of FGP student beneficiaries and their mentors at the Kallang Ice World. A total of 32 children, their families and mentors thoroughly enjoyed themselves skating and gliding on ice. This fun-filled event marked a sweet closure to FGP’s Tuition Bursary and Mentoring Programme […]
ISCOS Motivators Training
On 26 November 2016, our team met with a group of ISCOS Motivators to share useful tips on delivering impactful talks, as well as exploring ways to engage audience in different settings and situations. It was also a good time to catch up with fellow Motivators and to encourage one another. Just before the session […]
The Rotary Club of Marina City’s Christmas Bash for FGP Children
Christmas came early for some 25 children under the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) on 12 December 2016, thanks to our partner, the Rotary Club of Marina City, Singapore for organising a wonderful Christmas party for the children at the Conrad Centennial Hotel. At the party, the children sang wonderful Christmas carols, played exciting games and […]
Connecting with CARE Network Partners
It was a pleasure meeting up with our fellow CARE Network agencies, Singapore After-Care Association (SACA) and Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) in the month of December 2016. Over a hearty lunch, we enjoyed the food and updated each other on recent happenings and developments. It was also interesting to hear insights from like-minded […]
ISCOS Fireside Chat Closing Session
Before we wrap up the year of 2016, ISCOS held its final round of Fireside Chat on 21 December 2016 with 11 ISCOS members in attendance. During the session, the ISCOS team did a round-up of the various programmes and services offered by ISCOS before inviting the participants to provide valuable feedback on how we […]
Positive Fun and Vibes in 2016 Final Leg of FGP Tri-Event Workshops
We successfully concluded the final series of the tri-event workshops for parents, youths and children under the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) on 24 September 2016. Themed “Creating a Positive Environment through Positive Interaction”, a total of 116 participants basked in fun-filled activities of role playing, art and crafts, and other hands-on games […]
FGP Beneficiaries Invited to the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Showcase
A total of nine children beneficiaries from the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) were invited by the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation (TCTF) to its “More Than Words” Showcase held on 8 September 2016 at the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). Themed “True Colours, True Hearts”, one of the highlights for this year’s showcase was the […]
WDA Opens Career Fairto Ex-offenders and Their Families
On 25 August 2016, ISCOS, together with other organisations, participated in the Singapore Workforce Development Authority’s (WDA) Career Fair held at the Hougang Central Hub. With its theme “Adapt & Grow, Better Jobs, Better Careers”, the event presented an exciting line-up of employment opportunities and workshops for job seekers. Hundreds of Singaporeans flocked to the […]
ISCOS’ Inaugural Education Consultation a Success!
On 20 August 2016, the first Education Consultation event was held at OnePeople.SG premises in Toa Payoh. Aimed to give the students a sense of direction and knowledge of what to expect after graduation, and to also link them with the relevant organisations to consider various academic and/or career options, the event attracted close to […]
ISCOS Board of Director, Ms Joy Tan, Receives the 2016 MHA National Day Award for Home Team Volunteers
First row: Ms Joy Tan (3rd from left), together with the other Awardees with the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam (4th from right). ISCOS Vice-Chairperson, Ms Joy Tan, took the stage to receive the 2016 Minister for Home Affairs’ National Day Award for Home Team Volunteers on 4 August […]
ISCOS Motivators Impart Valuable Life Experiences to Secondary School Students
As part of the National Education initiative by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF), two of our ISCOS Motivators, Mr Jabez Koh and Mr Zulkhairee Udik, shared their life experiences to students ofBendemeer Secondary School on 25 and 26 July 2016. During these sessions, the ISCOS Motivators had the opportunity to spread the positive message […]
ISCOS Welcomes Five New Board Members
ISCOS is pleased to announce the addition of Ms Shie Yong Lee, Mr Alex Yeo, Mr Mike Hue, Mr Yeo Tiong Eng and Mr Sujimy Mohamad to its Board of Directors. The five new Directors come from both public and private sectors, all with outstanding reputations in their respective fields of expertise. Ms Shie currently […]
Mentors and Mentees, Let’s Go Trekking!
Together with the volunteer mentors from Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow, the Rotary Club of Raffles City and Singapore Management University, the ISCOS team brought the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) beneficiaries for a morning trek to Mount Faber on 30 July 2016. This is the second big group activity for the year, […]
Goldbell Extends CSR Efforts through LEAP
Volunteers from Goldbell Group (Goldbell), one of Singapore’s market leaders in industrial vehicles and our major sponsor for the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) this year, got their hands dirty once again during the Learning Environment Assistance Project (LEAP) event held on 30 July 2016. Close to 20 volunteers were present on a […]
ISCOS’ Inaugural Fireside Chat with Members a Success!
On 29 March 2016, ISCOS held its first ever fireside chat with the members, as part of its support group initiative. Spearheaded by the Support and Guidance team, the session was attended by 20 ISCOS members who shared about their victories and the challenges they face as an ex-offender in the community. Other suggestions were […]
Farewell to Underwater World Sentosa, a long-time supporter of ISCOS
On 26 June 2016, we bade farewell to one of our CSR partners, Underwater World Sentosa (UWS), as it closed after 25 years in operation. UWS’ collaboration with ISCOS dates back to as early as 2008, where it became the venue sponsor for ISCOS events such as Children’s Day (2011), Workplan Seminar (2012), and others. […]
ISCOS Family Day Goes Carnival on the Green
Close to 280 ISCOS beneficiaries, volunteers, and staff gathered on the Saturday morning of 4 June 2016 to celebrate ISCOS Family Day 2016 at Angsana Green, East Coast Park. Themed as “Carnival on the Green”, the annual event was sponsored by Goldbell Foundation in collaboration with Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow, who also roped in […]
The Launch of ISCOS Book Corner in Collaboration with The Patatas
The much-awaited ISCOS Book Corner is officially open! Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 28 May 2016, the dedicated corner was launched by Mr Janan Loh from The Patatas and Mr Patrick Ng, ISCOS’ Executive Director in front of beneficiaries from the Fairy Godparent Programme and representatives from The Patatas, the brains behind this collaboration with […]
Yearly Round-up of Achievements at ISCOS’ 26th Annual General Meeting
The 26th ISCOS Annual General Meeting was held on 23 May 2016 at the YMCA Singapore. More than 40 members attended the event where ISCOS’ achievements and results in 2015 were reported. During the meeting, it was also announced that Mr Vernon Khoo, Mr Lim Hong Tan, Mr Desmond Chin, Mr Soo Eng Hiong, Mr […]
The Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Donates to ISCOS Gift of Hope
A loyal supporter of ISCOS programmes since 2013, the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation (TCTF) generously contributed $5,000 to our Gift of Hope (GOH) project. GOH is an initiative to assist new members to sustain their basic needs in the first few days after their release, each given a pack containing $40 worth of items such […]
ISCOS Mini Job Fair 2016: Connecting Members with Prospective Employers
The annual ISCOS Job Fair was held on 23 April 2016 at ISCOS’ premises. The event drew eight companies which were willing to support our members seeking new employment. The participating employers came from various sectors, including logistics, construction, and food and beverage companies. Participating members underwent initial job application screening and interviews on the […]
2015
Goldbell-YRF-ISCOS Bursary Award Rewards Student Beneficiaries with Commendable Academic Progress
More than $72,000 worth of bursaries was distributed to a total of 195 deserving students this year, of which 109 recipients proudly received their bursaries at the Goldbell-YRF-ISCOS Bursary Award Ceremony. Held at the Queenstown Community Centre on 4 December 2015, the ceremony was graced by Dr Chia Shi-Lu, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar […]
Saying “Thank You” to Our Partners and Volunteers at ISCOS Appreciation Dinner
To express our gratitude to our sponsors, partners and volunteers, the ISCOS Appreciation Dinner was held on 30 October 2015 at The Grassroots’ Club. In conjunction with SG50 celebrations, this year’s theme was “On a little street in Singapore”, where guests dressed up in different fashion styles with a local flavour. A total of seven […]
ISCOS friends raise over $ 137.000 through fundraising golf tournament and dinner at Sentosa Golf Club
At its first Fundraising Golf Tournament and Dinner event on 1 October 2015 at the Sentosa Golf Club, ISCOS successfully raised a total of $137,425, which will go towards the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), an initiative that supports children and families of ex-offenders. Mr Seah Kian Peng, Deputy Speaker and Member of […]
ISCOS Family Day 2015 – “Bonding in True Kampung Style”
In a bid to strengthen family ties (and keep the ‘Kampung’ spirit alive), ISCOS held its annual Family Day event at the Emerald Pavilion, Sentosa, on 12 September 2015, together with contributing partners and volunteers from Goldbell Foundation and Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow. Revolving around the event theme “Bonding in True Kampung Style”, close […]
Motivational sharing among members at the inaugural ISCOS Reintegration Symposium 2015
To support the members positively in their reintegration journey, ISCOS organised its first Reintegration Symposium on 3 October 2015 at its premises as a platform for ISCOS members to hear from peers who have successfully overcome different challenges in their rehabilitation and reintegration. During the event, a total of 20 participants were inspired by real-life […]
FGP beneficiaries learnt to express themselves at new art therapy workshop
Art is well-known to be a powerful medium for expressing emotions, which can also be used as a means of communication between people. Recognising the need to address the mental and emotional aspects among beneficiaries,especially the young ones, FGP introduced a new art therapy workshop under its tri-event workshop series themed ‘Changing Mindsets. Held on […]
Two Foundations Donated Over $ 500K to ISCOS FGP
On 12 Jun 2015, ISCOS organised an appreciation event at One Farrer Hotel and Spa for the sponsors of the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), which was graced by Mr Soh Wai Wah, Commissioner of Prisons. Two new sponsors were welcomed by ISCOS Chairman, Mr Vernon Khoo. Goldbell Group, Singapore’s market leader in […]
Big Group activity provides bonding time between mentors and mentees
A two-hour bowling event was organised on 23 May 2015 at Super Bowl Jurong as part of a Big Group Activity for 39 Fairy Godparent Programme’s beneficiaries. 15 volunteer mentors from law firm Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow had fun bonding with their mentees over several rounds of bowling. Thank you Baker & McKenzie.Wong & […]
CARE Network Workplan highlights future strategies to engage Ex-offenders
The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network held its third annual Workplan Seminar on 29 April 2015 at The Grassroots’ Club. With the theme ‘Forging Ahead, Advancing Reintegration’, plans for the Network and community to further engage ex-offenders were discussed. ISCOS’ Executive Director, Mr Patrick Ng, was mentioned in a Straits Times […]
Subsidised Tuition Rates to Help 30 FGP Students
Since 2012, Kip McGrath Education Centres (KMEC) have been providing subsidised tuition rates to students under the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP). This year, KMEC has committed to supporting 30 students from low-income families with special tuition rates. With the help of dedicated partners such as KMEC, these students are given the opportunity to receive good education and […]
LEAP helps 50 households for SG50
As part of the nation’s celebrations for its 50th birthday, ISCOS has embarked on a project to help 50 underprivileged households. Known as the Learning Environment Assistance Project (LEAP), it is centred on providing students under the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) with a conducive home study environment. The LEAP consists of cleaning, […]
New Corporate Partners lend Support to Project LEAP
Through the Learning Environment Assistance Project (LEAP), ISCOS has improved the home study environments and living conditions of 29 underprivileged homes to date. As part of the SG50 celebrations, we aim to finish 50 homes by the end of 2015. It is our heartfelt wish to be able to provide our FGP student beneficiaries with […]
2014
Needy Students receive bursaries at StarHub-ISCOS Bursary Award
A total of 165 needy students were eligible for the Bursary Awards this year, of whom 109 attended the StarHub-ISCOS Bursary Award Ceremony on 5 December 2014. The bursaries served as rewards to the students for receiving above average results in their final examinations this year despite less than ideal family situations. A total of […]
ISCOS’ Gift of Hope Package empowered by StarHub
On 9 October 2014, StarHub’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ms Jeannie Ong, presented ISCOS members with additional items in the ISCOS’ Gift of Hope (GOH) package at StarHub Green. In addition to the original items like a NETS FlashPay Card and vouchers for food and groceries, StarHub contributed the gift of a free pre-paid SIM card […]
ISCOS organises first Logistics Training Fair under SOAR
About 20 members participated in ISCOS’ first logistics training fair, a place-and-train component under the Strengthening Opportunities Advocating Resilience (SOAR) programme, an initiative jointly launched by ISCOS and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA). The full day event was held on 18 September at ISCOS. Each member had the chance to discuss potential job opportunities […]
TCTF organises Concert and Book Launch
Tan Chin Tuan Foundation (TCTF) concluded its ‘More Than Words’ Programme with a finale concert on 11 September, which was held at the Nanyang Auditorium at the Nanyang Technological University. The concert was performed by young participants of the programme and invitations were extended to 20 ISCOS family beneficiaries and staff. In addition, a book […]
ISCOS underscores Message of Hope at Family Day Event
A total of 335 ISCOS members and their families were inspired by the strong message of hope during the ISCOS Family Day held at the River Safari on 6 September 2014. Law firm Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow collaborated with ISCOS to organize the event for the second year running and 50 staff volunteers from […]
Volunteers bond at ISCOS Bowling Night
To show appreciation to its volunteers and to promote bonding among volunteers and staff, ISCOS organised a Bowling Night on 15 August at Yishun SAFRA. Staff and volunteers had hours of fun bonding with one another over multiple games of bowling and mingled with one another over dinner and drinks. ISCOS hopes that we can […]
Fashion brand spreads inspirational messages to FGP beneficiaries
A total of 50 beneficiaries from the YRF-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP) were inspired through the ‘Kindness Project’, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by New York-based fashion brand, alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet. More than 170 guests attended the launch event of the brand’s first standing store at ION Orchard on 13 June […]
ISCOS reports key undertakings at 24th AGM
ISCOS Chairman Mr Vernon Khoo shared key accomplishments for 2013 during the 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 19 May 2014 at the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA). A total of 86 members attended the AGM. Mr Khoo reported that a total of 2,908 beneficiaries received various forms of assistance from ISCOS. Out of this […]
ISCOS gets new identity and tagline
After using the simple black logo for years, ISCOS embraces a new identity with vibrant colours, a new symbol and tagline. The new tagline “You’ve got a friend” resonates well with ex-offenders and their families, as friendship and concern for their well-being has always been the driving force in ISCOS. Consulus, an Asian innovation consultancy, […]
Clement Chow composes ISCOS song
Well-known composer and lyricist Mr Clement Chow wrote a song for ISCOS entitled “You’ve got a friend in us”. The song echoes ISCOS’ aim of befriending ex-offenders in the community, and its hope for members to regain their footing in society and create a better future for themselves and their families. The song was sung […]
ISCOS friends raise $ 500k through gala dinner
Friends and partners of ISCOS collectively raised more than $500k through its 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner on 28 May 2014, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. The funds will go towards the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), an initiative that supports children of ex-offenders. Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, […]
WDA and ISCOS launches train-&-place scheme for ex-offenders
In collaboration with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), ISCOS launched a holistic train-&-place scheme for ex-offenders. The Strengthening Opportunities Advocating Resilience (SOAR) Programme aims to prepare unemployed ex-offenders to enter the workforce by enhancing their skills sets through training, and helping the vulnerably employed ex-offenders to upgrade their skills and move towards seeking secured […]
2013
BMWL recognised for initiatives with ISCOS
Law firm Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow (BMWL) received an honourable mention at the American Chamber of Commerce’s (AmCham) first-ever Partnership for Social Impact Award Ceremony held on 19 November 2013 at St. Regis. AmCham recognised BMWL for its community programmes with ISCOS, specifically on helping children of ex-offenders and their families under the YRF-ISCOS […]
CapitaLand brings cheers through home makeover
Twelve families of ex-offenders under the YRF-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme and eight families from CapitaLand’s partner organisations were among the beneficiaries of the first ever CapitaLand Volunteer Day. Led by Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO, CapitaLand Limited, 200 staff of the firm volunteered on 15 November 2013 to paint, install fixtures, and […]
Yellow Ribbon Fund supports ISCOS’ Fairy Godparent Programme
The Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF) now supports the YRF-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP). FGP is an enhanced children’s education and family support initiative of ISCOS which helps ex-offenders’ children achieve a sound education and acquire positive life values. “We are grateful to YRF for supporting FGP. This is a significant milestone for ISCOS and we […]
ISCOS member completes entrepreneurship training, opens food stall
Zulkhairee, 42, a member of ISCOS started up a Malay food stall at Geylang East in mid-April, after successfully completing the ISCOS Entrepreneurship Training in August 2012. He was assisted to apply for business loan by ISCOS’ training provider, Princeton Mind. With the assistance from his wife, Zulkhairee was able open the stall inside a coffee […]
ISCOS participates in Our Singapore Conversation
A total of 25 ex-offenders shared their views and aspirations at “Our Singapore Conversation” (OSC) dialogue organised by ISCOS on 27 April at Civil Service College. They were joined by 10 supporters of ISCOS comprising ex-offenders, volunteers and Directors of ISCOS. Participants raised common issues such as employment and accommodation for ex-offenders, stigma associated with […]
ISCOS welcomes Brunei Prisons delegates
Delegates from Brunei Prisons and Ministry of Home Affairs visited ISCOS Office on 24 April as part of a two-day visit to know more about the aftercare works undertaken by CARE Network members and partners. “We are very privileged to share ISCOS’ initiatives to our counterparts in Brunei Prisons. I hope that best practices on […]