The voluntary sector, independent sector, or civic sector is the duty of social activity undertaken by organizations that are non-governmental nonprofit organizations. This sector is also called the third sector, community sector, and nonprofit sector, in contrast to the public sector and the private sector. Civic sector or social sector are other terms for the sector, emphasizing its relationship to civil society. Richard Cornuelle coined the term “independent sector” and was one of the first scholars to point out the vast impact and unique mechanisms of this sector. Given the diversity of organizations that comprise the sector, Peter Frumkin prefers "non-profit and voluntary sector".
The People's Association is a Singaporean statutory board that oversees neighbourhood grassroots communities and social organisations. The PA was established on 1 July 1960 to as part of the nation-building programme to promote social cohesion and multiracialism. It is currently under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).
The National Council on Problem Gambling was set up in Singapore on 31 August 2005 to address problem gambling, following the government's decision to legalise casino gambling and build two integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa.
Singapore Children's Society protects and nurtures children and youth of all races and religions. In 2018, the Society reached out to 78,433 children, youth and families in need.
Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) is a voluntary welfare organisation based in Singapore, that provides services for the intellectually disabled. They run four special schools and a centre called MINDSville@Napiri which offers therapy and residential care. Other MINDS services include sheltered workshops, social enterprises, and day activity centre. Founded in 1962, MINDS is among the largest charities in Singapore, with over 600 staff and 2400 beneficiaries. MINDS generates yearly expenses of 21 million Singapore dollars, as of 2005. Two other organisations, the Association for Persons with Special Needs and Metta School were formed as an offshoot of MINDS.
Community organization or Community Based Organization refers to organizing aimed at making desired improvements to a community's social health, well-being, and overall functioning. Community organization occurs in geographically, psychosocially, culturally, spiritually, and/or digitally bounded communities.
St. Luke's Hospital is a community hospital in Singapore that provides professional healthcare services. It was named after the patron saint of the medical profession, St Luke. St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly Sick was registered as a voluntary welfare organisation in the Registry of Societies in October 1991. It was renamed as St Luke's hospital in September 2004 to signify the hospital's role as a community hospital while retaining its focus on geriatric care. The idea of setting up community hospital was first mooted by a group of Christian doctors and nurses after a report from the Advisory Council on the Aged in 1988 raised important issues concerning the lack of adequate elderly care facilities in Singapore. A projection of the number of facilities and resources needed to provide adequate healthcare services to Singapore's ageing population in 2030 revealed serious shortfalls. In response to the problem of inadequate healthcare facilities for the elderly, a group of 8 churches and Christian organisations including the Graduate Christian Fellowship and the Singapore Nurses' Christian Fellowship came together to set up St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly Sick. St Luke's Hospital is headed by a board of directors and various committees that oversee the daily operations of the hospital.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, a branch of the Government of India, is an apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to women and child development in India. The current minister for the Ministry of Women and Child Development is Smriti Irani having held the portfolio since 31 May 2019.
Community Chest (Singapore) is a non-profit organisation that channels resources to the social service sector in Singapore. It was established in 1983 to centralise the fund-raising activities of its member Voluntary Welfare Organisations, to ensure that its members could concentrate on providing services and to reduce fund-raising expenses.
Pathway is a voluntary, charitable, nonprofit and non-governmental organisation, based in Chennai, India - which serves children and adults without any bias to religion, caste, creed, or any other consideration. Founded in 1975 by Dr. ADSN Prasad, now provides services to children with mental and learning disabilities, adult mental handicap, and orphaned and destitute children of rural south India.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan) (P.D.U.N.I.P.P.D.) is an autonomous organisation under the administrative and financial control of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, government of India.
The National Council of Social Service is a statutory board governed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development of the Singapore government.
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labour for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as-needed basis, such as in response to a natural disaster.
The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), founded in 1964, is the largest cancer advocacy and support organisation in Singapore.
The Helping Hand is a halfway house in Singapore, registered as a Singapore non-governmental organization. The stated objective of the organization is to "transform lives of ex-offenders through the love of Jesus Christ into restored and hardworking individuals, re-integrating them back into society as stable and contributing citizens".
Temasek Cares CLG Ltd is a Singaporean non-profit philanthropic organisation set up in 2009 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Temasek Holdings.
Chia Yong Yong is a Singaporean lawyer, disability advocate and was a Nominated Member of Parliament of Singapore from August 2014 to September 2018.
Singapore does not have a formal definition of disability, but has been making changes in regards to the visibility of people with disability and also with increasing accessibility of all areas of the country. Early in the country's history, human rights issues for people with disabilities took second place to the need to secure independence and building the economy. Singapore signed on to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2013 and coordinates the Enabling Masterplan with both government and non governmental organisations.
