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<\/p>\nSINGAPORE \u2013 Some $50 million will be set aside to fund ground-up initiatives that benefit the community, said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.<\/p>\n
The new SG Partnerships Fund will provide varying tiers of funding over different time frames, including grants of up to $1 million for larger, multi-year projects, he said in his Budget speech on Feb 12.<\/p>\n
It will build on the existing Our Singapore Fund, which was introduced in 2016 and has supported over 800 ground-up projects by individuals and organisations. Projects under this fund can get up to 80 per cent of supported project expenditure, capped at $20,000.<\/p>\n
However, the Government received feedback that the fund can be improved \u2013 for instance, by giving out larger grants, funding projects over a longer term and a broader eligibility criteria, PM Wong said.<\/p>\n
PM Wong said the move is part of Singapore\u2019s investment in renewing and strengthening the bonds that bind its people together at a time when societies worldwide are becoming more divided and polarised.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot let this happen in Singapore,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also stressed the importance of \u201cstrengthening our bonds, looking out for those around us, and putting the common good first\u201d, adding: \u201cThat sense of togetherness has carried us through uncertainty and brought us this far.\u201d<\/p>\n
PM Wong noted that the Our Singapore Fund received more than 250 applications in 2025, including an initiative by two children \u2013 Kaizen, seven, and Kay, nine \u2013 and their parents to involve others in community service projects.<\/p>\n
For their first project, which was to raise awareness about fire safety, they designed a poster and worked with Nee Soon Town Council to display it at HDB lift lobbies.<\/p>\n
The mother, Ms Faith Ong, 43, said exposing her children to current affairs, such as the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, inspired them to give back to the community.<\/p>\n
The family decided to start their initiative, called Little Hands, Big Hearts, to identify and address community needs. It has been granted up to $5,000 under the fund, which will be disbursed as needed.<\/p>\n
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Ms Faith Ong and her children Kaizen (left) and Kay See preparing goodie bags in their home. The family started the initiative, called Little Hands, Big Hearts, to identify and address community needs. It has been granted up to $5,000 under the Our Singapore Fund.<\/p>\n
(ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR)<\/p>\n
Ms Ong, a freelance yoga instructor, said some of their plans in the coming months include giving out goodie bags to migrant workers, holding a cake-pop-making workshop at an old folks\u2019 home and a beach clean-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that more families will be encouraged to allow their children to join in such community service to help people,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
In his speech, PM Wong also noted that the arts and heritage play a vital role in building shared bonds as \u201cthey help us understand where we came from, express who we are today, and imagine who we can become as a people\u201d.<\/p>\n
Multiculturalism is also a defining part of Singapore\u2019s identity, and steps will therefore be taken to strengthen cultural and heritage institutions, PM Wong said.<\/p>\n
For example, the revamped Malay Heritage Centre<\/a>, which has been closed since 2022 for restoration and redevelopment, will reopen later in 2026.<\/p>\n The Government will also work with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre to expand its reach and engagement, and will support the Indian Heritage Centre to enhance its outreach and programming.<\/p>\n Touching on sports, PM Wong said it is another powerful force that brings Singaporeans together.<\/p>\n The authorities will continue to roll out the Sports Facilities Master Plan, so that Singaporeans can easily access affordable and quality sports facilities.<\/p>\n As part of the plan, Sport Singapore will continue to develop and rejuvenate infrastructure to meet Singapore\u2019s diverse and evolving sporting needs and interests.<\/p>\n In the coming years, the new Punggol Regional Sport Centre and Toa Payoh Integrated Development will be opened, he said.<\/p>\n The centre in Punggol, which will house sheltered tennis and futsal courts, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, is set to open in 2026. Meanwhile, the Toa Payoh development will be completed within the current term of government, and will house a polyclinic, library, park and sports facilities.<\/p>\n The Toa Payoh Integrated Development will be completed within the current term of government, and will house a polyclinic, library, park and sports facilities.<\/p>\n (PHOTO: SPORTSG)<\/p>\n Sports facilities in Farrer Park and Tengah, and revamped sports centres in Hougang and Queenstown will also be opened.<\/p>\n The Dual-Use Scheme, an initiative where schools open their fields and other facilities for public use during weekends, will be expanded, PM Wong said.<\/p>\n Complementing these facilities will be more sports programmes to bring together Singaporeans of all ages and abilities.<\/p>\n PM Wong emphasised the importance of building a \u201cwe first\u201d society, in which a strong sense of solidarity manifests in giving, volunteering and acts of kindness.<\/p>\n To support this, the Government will extend a scheme under which those who donate to institutions of a public character and eligible institutions get a 250 per cent tax deduction. The scheme, which was slated to end on Dec 31, 2026, will be extended another three years until end-2029.<\/p>\n This scheme has been in place since 2009.<\/p>\n The Corporate Volunteer Scheme, which offers a 250 per cent tax deduction to businesses when their employees volunteer with charities, will also be extended until end-2029. It was introduced in 2016.<\/p>\n PM Wong also announced that the next round of Youth Panels will be launched later in 2026, giving young people a chance to work with the Government on issues that matter to them.<\/p>\n Youth Panels<\/a> were launched in November 2023 under Forward Singapore for those aged 15 to 34 to co-create policies with the Government.<\/p>\n In the initiative\u2019s first round, 120 young people contributed to four panels. Each panel delved into a different area: financial resilience, career experience in South-east Asia, digital well-being, and domestic recycling behaviours and mindsets.<\/p>\n More details on the initiatives will be made public during the debate on the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Megan Wee<\/p>\n Read next: 10 highlights from PM Wong\u2019s speech<\/a><\/p>\n Source: The Straits Times \u00a9 SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction<\/a><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b43d96ff1251d001d8d15b0273ab1698.jpeg\"\/)
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