Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Transforming The Volunteer Experience In The Social Service Sector, Dalvin Sidhu, Weng Lin Ng, Thilanga Dilum Wewalaarachchi

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

Transforming the Volunteer Experience in the Social Service Sector is the first analysis report of its kind that focuses on investigating and enhancing volunteerism in Singapore. Through the perspectives of volunteers and volunteer managers via surveys and in-depth interviews, this report reveals a framework depicting five key features that contribute towards a quality volunteering experience. The study also makes recommendations on the actionable steps and strategies that Social Service Agencies can adopt to engage their volunteers more strategically, so that they can play a more significant role in delivering enhanced quality services to service users.

The Hunger Report Part Ii: Targeting Specific Needs In The Wake Of Covid-19, Dalvin Sidhu, Tania Nagpaul, Weng Lin Ng, Thilanga Dilum Wewalaarachchi

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

The Hunger Report Part II: Targeting Specific Needs in the Wake of COVID-19 is the first intervention study of its kind in Singapore, delving into how the food situation of previously identified food-insecure households has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through surveys, this report reveals the impact COVID-19 has had on a small sample of food-insecure families in Singapore. The authors also administer a Needs Toolkit to understand the unique needs and preferences of each food-insecure household. They then explore the impact of autonomy in food support through an intervention element in the study

Crisis And Connection, Qiuyi Tan, Christy Davis, Dalvin Sidhu, Tania Nagpaul

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

COVID-19 has bridged a longstanding disconnect between Singapore’s resident and migrant populations, showing that the health and well-being of everyone are linked in a pandemic. This paper reviews the available research on low-wage migrant workers in Singapore and unpacks the challenges using design thinking and its human-centred ethos. Transformative social change often starts with knowledge and understanding. We map out the research so you can use it.

The Hunger Report: An In-Depth Look At Food Insecurity In Singapore, Tania Nagpaul, Dalvin Sidhu, Jinwen Chen

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

This report provides a detailed account of the first nationally representative study on the largely hidden problem of food insecurity in Singapore.

Giving And Receiving: A Study Of Barriers And Enablers In Asian Philanthropy, Dalvin Sidhu, Jinwen Chen

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

This report provides an insight into Asian philanthropy through engaging with philanthropic entities (PEs) in Greater China, India and Indonesia. Issues pertinent to this research include (1) challenges and opportunities for philanthropy in the region, (2) the interest and readiness of PEs to address common regional problems, (3) identifying support and platforms that would effectively help translate giving strategies into impact, (4) the interest and readiness of PEs to explore and engage in innovative ways, and (5) identifying the major areas in which these PEs are involved.

Self-Determination Theory As A Framework For Understanding Needs Of Youth At-Risk: Perspectives Of Social Service Professionals And The Youth Themselves, Tania Nagpaul, Jinwen Chen

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

While there is evidence from the self-determination perspective for the positive impact of self-determination interventions on at-risk youth's transition outcomes, no research to date, has attempted to understand youth needs from both social service provider and youth client perspectives in the same study. The present study sought to generate a nuanced understanding of youth needs. For this purpose, the study was conducted in two phases. In phase1, twenty-one social service professionals (case workers, social workers, counsellors, program supervisors) were interviewed to get an understanding of their perception of youth needs and how they are being met. In phase 2, 45 …

Hunger In A Food Lover's Paradise: Understanding Food Insecurity In Singapore, Emma Glendinning, Siew Ying Shee, Tania Nagpaul, Jinwen Chen

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

This report provides a deeper understanding of the food insecurity situation in Singapore. Food insecurity refers to the lack of physical and/or economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. The report sheds light on those experiencing food insecurity and the factors affecting this experience. In addition, it identifies gaps in food support provision and makes recommendations on how these gaps might be filled for a smoother and targeted food support distribution system.

Elderly Population In Singapore: Understanding Social, Physical And Financial Needs, John A. Donaldson, Catherine J. Smith, Balambigai Balakrishnan, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Sanushka Mudaliar

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

Who are Singapore’s low-income elderly? What makes some resilient in the face of multiple challenges? What are their social needs that might be filled by additional interventions via civil society or government programmes? These are some of the questions this publication tries to understand.

It does so not by surveying the elderly, but via intensive interviews with 100 residents of one low-income neighbourhood in Singapore. Whereas surveys can help gather generalisable data, interviews can help us see the ‘story behind the story,’ illuminating potential causal connections and providing hints regarding possible effective ways to intercede. We followed this up with …

People With Physical Disabilities In Singapore: Understanding Disabling Factors In Caregiving, Education, Employment And Finances, Ranjana Raghunathan, Balambigai Balakrishnan, Catherine J. Smith, Mumtaz Md Kadir

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

The publication concerns the unmet social needs of people with disabilities in Singapore. Researchers from the Lien Centre for Social Innovation, along with students from Singapore Management University, interviewed 100 people with disabilities over a period of several months. These in-depth interviews were designed to elicit detailed stories from the participants, which would inform our understanding of their needs and how services might be improved to better meet those needs.

The rich data collected from these interviews paints a picture of a community which has faced barriers in many spheres and stages of life. From major life issues like education …

Single-Parent Families In Singapore: Understanding The Challenges Of Finances, Housing And Time Poverty, Emma Glendinning, Catherine J. Smith, Mumtaz Md Md Kadir

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

This publication documents the unmet social needs of single-parent families in Singapore. It specifically focuses on four key areas; employment and finance, housing, social networks and time poverty. In-depth, qualitative interviews were completed with 88 low-income single parents across Singapore. These interviews provided the opportunity to truly explore the stories of these single-parent families, displaying the complexity and interplay of the issues they faced.

Our findings display the huge responsibility that single parents carry as they balance the caregiving and financial needs of their family, alongside negotiating policies that are largely suggested to support the “traditional” family structure. While respecting …

A Handbook On Inequality, Poverty And Unmet Social Needs In Singapore, Catherine J. Smith, John A. Donaldson, Sanushka Mudaliar, Mumtaz Md Kadir, Lam Keong Yeoh

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

The authors of the handbook conclude that efforts to address poverty, inequality and unmet social needs in Singapore would be greatly enhanced by: (a) the development of locally relevant and nuanced monetary and non-monetary measures of poverty that are made publicly available; and (b) more sharing of disaggregated data from government studies and surveys. These steps would enable academics, VWOs and the public at large become more aware of the issues related to poverty and inequality in Singapore, and be placed in a better position to weigh in on debates and solutions.

Levers For Change -- Philanthropy In Select South East Asian Countries, Prapti Upadhyay Anand, Crystal Hayling

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

Explosive economic growth in South East Asia has resulted in unparalleled wealth creation. Forbes magazine reports there are 386 billionaires in the Asia Pacific region. While the region’s emerging economies report hopeful signs of a broadening middle class, income inequality is rising faster than living standards for the majority. There is widespread agreement that the stark income disparity must be addressed or it risks threatening political and social stability. For those interested in the social economy, key questions remain unanswered: first, will philanthropic giving match the fast pace of wealth accumulation, and second, will that philanthropy be strategic and targeted …

From Charity To Change: Social Investment In Selected Southeast Asian Countries, Sonu Chhina, Watanan Petersik, Jacqueline Loh, David Evans

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

From Charity to Change looks at how social investing is evolving in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It examines the emerging ecosystem for social investment in each of these countries, with a view to identifying gaps and obstacles to the advancement of the field. A section containing reports on current social investing developments Cambodia and Vietnam is also included in this publication.

Unmet Social Needs In Singapore: Singapore's Social Structures And Policies, And Their Impact On Six Vulnerable Communities, Braema Mathi, Sharifah Mohamed

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

In line with Lien Centre’s vision to catalyse positive social change, this research was carried out to understand social gaps in Singapore and how our society’s ability to meet social needs can be enhanced. Despite basic social needs in Singapore being essentially met through direct government interventions and the contributions of non-governmental social service activities, there are today some vulnerable groups that remain or have become more prominent. This research project aims to identify some of these needs and the possible approaches to addressing them.

It is hoped that some of the recommendations of this report will be helpful for …

The State Of Play Of Csr In Singapore, Eugene K B Tan

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

Given Singapore’s status as an economic powerhouse in the Asian region, it might be reasonable to assume that the level of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity would be proportionate. However, in frequent comparisons of CSR across countries, both academically and anecdotally, Singapore seems to fall short.

The understanding of CSR has not kept pace with the expectations and demands placed on business by the various stakeholders, including consumers and governments. It would be worthwhile to understand the reasons why this is so.

The research has three objectives:

- To examine the drivers of and impediments to CSR in Singapore;

- …

Promoting Nonprofit Organisations' It Enablement In Singapore, Projjal Ghatak, Guillaume Sachet, Jared Tham

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

The non profit landscape in Singapore is large and diverse, consisting of more than 1,800 registered charities and more than 500 approved Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs). These organisations vary in size from less than $100,000 in annual receipts to those with over $10 million in receipts. They also operate in over 10 sectors ranging from religion to education to sports. NPOs could consider the following four common models for enabling and deploying IT: In-sourcing; Outsourcing; Shared Services; Software as a Service (SaaS). Overcoming the challenges and capturing the opportunities can allow Singapore to increase the automation of the …

Report Of The Social Enterprise Committee, Lien Centre For Social Innovation

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

Social entrepreneurs and social enterprises are an innovative alternative to provide employment opportunities for needy disadvantaged Singaporeans to mitigate the effects of the widening income gap. Still in its infancy stage, the social entrepreneurship and social enterprise sector faces challenges that are unique to Singapore due to its size, open economy and relative competitiveness.