Thinking about volunteering on a regular basis? Here’s how to get started and create a lasting impact

Care Corner

Care Corner is a social service agency dedicated to providing social and healthcare services to foster hope and promote well-being for communities in need.

The agency supports children from lower-income backgrounds or special learning needs, youths-at-risk, families, seniors in need of assistance, and individuals seeking counselling and mental health services.

With the growing demand for Care Corner’s services, as more seniors live alone or in isolation, volunteer support is more critical than ever—whether through ad-hoc or regular engagements.

By aligning volunteer roles with specific organisational needs, Care Corner ensures individuals can contribute in ways that suit their skills and availability. This approach not only helps the agency meet its resource requirements but also fosters a culture of community support and social responsibility.

Tip: If you’re new to volunteering, start small by joining one of their planned activities. It’s a great way to discover the work they do and find out more about yourself — what you enjoy, your strengths, and your interests — while making a meaningful contribution.

Get Involved: Whether you can offer time, expertise, or a special skill, your contribution can help make a significant difference in the lives of individuals in need of support. Reach out to Care Corner to register for any volunteering opportunities or through their volunteer application form to get started today!

Dementia Singapore

Dementia Singapore is a social service agency specialising in dementia care. It champions the cause through fundraising, advocacy, roadshows, and more. The agency empowers the community by offering capability-building, training, consultancy, and delivering person-centred care to clients.

Volunteers play an important role in ensuring that Dementia Singapore can offer comprehensive care and support to clients, by supporting the agency’s programmes and services, or increasing community outreach. Individual volunteers on average contribute at least 160 hours per month, while youth and corporate volunteers contribute around 98 hours and 217 hours respectively.

During peak periods, such as festive seasons and World Alzheimer’s Month in September, the demand for additional support increases, providing an excellent opportunity for new volunteers to get involved.

Tip: If you’re new to volunteering, approach the experience with an open mind, a compassionate heart, and a readiness to learn. Supporting persons living with dementia begins with understanding and empathy.

Get involved: Dementia Singapore is open to welcoming dedicated volunteers to get involved in its efforts to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the dementia community. Find out how you can get involved by visiting their volunteer recruitment page or connecting with them.

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) is a 24/7 crisis care agency that provides confidential emotional support to individuals struggling with or impacted by suicide. Their work is anchored on three key pillars: prevention, intervention, and postvention.

As Singapore’s only suicide prevention agency offering round-the-clock helplines, SOS requires service-based volunteers to commit 3 - 4 hours weekly, including one overnight shift per month to support their 24-hour Hotline and 24-hour CareText services. Volunteers are crucial to ensuring the services remain available to those in need.

SOS not only recruits volunteers but also invests in their training, recognising that volunteers are essential to providing empathetic, life-saving support. They also have a volunteer management strategy in place to ensure that these volunteers are equipped with the skills and mental preparedness to make an effective, long-term impact, even within their own communities.

Tip: Volunteering with SOS can be emotionally demanding, it’s important to assess your readiness to meet the commitment requirements and your ability to provide empathetic, non-judgmental support. Being prepared to foster a safe and supportive space for individuals in distress is essential for this role.

Get Involved: SOS depends on dedicated volunteers to keep their services running 24/7. If you resonate with SOS’s mission and would like to be a listening ear to someone in crisis, consider volunteering with SOS. Apply through the volunteer application form or contact SOS directly to learn more about available volunteer roles.

Volunteering is not just about giving, it’s also about growing, learning, and making a lasting impact on individuals and communities.

Take that first step with an open heart, and you’ll soon discover the difference you can make in the lives of the communities around you. Discover more about sustainable volunteering and explore how you can start your volunteering journey today.