Overview of the Sector Landscape

As our nation progresses, the social service needs have also evolved. In view of this, NCSS conducted the Quality of Life (QOL) Study in 2016 to examine the various vulnerable populations through a person-centred and holistic approach. These are some of the trends and changing needs across the various groups we support at Community Chest.

Adults with Disabilities

3.4% of adults aged 18 to 49 in Singapore have a disability.
About 29% average resident employment rate for persons with disabilities aged 15-64.
88 organisations recognised under the Enabling Mark, the first national-level accreditation framework for their inclusive hiring practices to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace.
Social inclusion was found to have the greatest impact on improving quality of life of persons with disabilities.

Children with Special Needs and Youth-at-Risk

15% annual increase of autism cases aged up to 6 years, from 2015 to 2019.
About 32,000 students with special needs, 80% of them in mainstream schools and 20% of them in the 19 special education schools in Singapore.
4 new special education schools for students who have autism spectrum disorder with intellectual impairment, to begin operations at their permanent sites between 2022 and 2024
43.3% fall in number of youth offenders between 2010 & 2020, but in total number of youth drug abusers an upward trend in the number of youths who committed outrage of modesty and rape offences between 2016 and 2020.

Persons with Mental Health Conditions

1 in 7 Singapore residents are affected by mental health conditions at some point in their lives
The latest Singapore Mental Health Study found that young adults aged 18-34 are most vulnerable to mental health conditions.
26,000 calls made to National Care hotline, from April to August 2020, indicating concerns on mental health, marital, family, emotional or financial support needed.
The suicide incidence rate among those aged 10 to 19 has risen by 37.5% in 2020 (from 2019).

Seniors and Families in Need of Support

Social satisfaction levels fell and sense of social isolation increased for seniors aged 55 to 75 years during circuit breaker.
2020 held the highest number of suicides among elders aged 60 and older, since 1991.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on low-income families: A study found that the median household income among applicants for a financial assistance scheme fell by 69 per cent.
Multiple layers of support are required to help families in need, from education support for children, to work training for the adults to gain employment.

Find out more about the impact of your contributions, an overview of the sector landscape or view the full FY2021 Impact Report.