New training programs and financial support aim to improve services for families of incarcerated individuals.
The Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP), which supports families of incarcerated individuals, is set to receive a boost in volunteer training and financial assistance. At the project’s annual appreciation and awards lunch on November 16, Transport Minister and Second Finance Minister Chee Hong Tat announced new initiatives to enhance volunteer efforts.
A skills training scheme will be launched in the first half of 2025, aimed at equipping over 1,100 grassroots volunteers with the knowledge to better assist families in need. The training will cover topics such as befriending families, Singapore’s correctional landscape, and substance addiction. The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) also plans to introduce an online portal by the end of 2025, where volunteers can access relevant resources and record case notes, all while maintaining privacy protections for the families they serve.
In addition to the training enhancements, financial support for inmates’ families will be increased. Grocery vouchers will rise from $80 to $150 annually per household, and book vouchers for children aged 6 to 18 will also be raised to $150 per child. Families with young children under five will receive $150 in grocery vouchers annually. These changes will benefit around 500 families in 2024.
Volunteer Mohamathu Abdul Kader, who has supported inmates’ families for over a decade, shared his experiences, including his assistance to a frail elderly woman whose son is incarcerated. Through the YRCP, he and other volunteers are able to connect families with necessary resources and support, improving their lives despite the challenges they face.
