“We love because he first loved us… The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” (1 John 4:19,21)

As I reflect on the past two years at Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), I am deeply encouraged by the journey we have taken together. United by the spirit of One MWS, we have worked purposefully to align our people, systems, and services across the organisation. This alignment has not only strengthened our internal capabilities but also enhanced our ability to serve with greater relevance, agility, and compassion.

Indeed, we give thanks that we were able to connect with over 22,000 seniors, families & individuals, children & youth in the financial year that ended in March 2025 – a significant 32% increase from the previous year – linking this community to support and resources needed for better lives.

ADVANCING FAMILY SERVICES THROUGH INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION

As part of the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) ongoing Family Services Landscape Review, MWS has been actively preparing for sector-wide changes by strengthening integration and coordination in our Family Services Group. We currently operate Family Service Centres (FSCs) and the Strengthening Families Programme@FSC (FAM@FSC). While we do not provide Youth Services or Protective Services, we are building partnerships with agencies such as Protection Specialist Centres and Integrated Service Providers in these areas to better coordinate care for vulnerable individuals and families.

At the same time, we are reinforcing our upstream efforts – such as marriage preparation, parenting support, and early risk detection – recognising that preventive work is just as critical as intervention in building resilient families and communities. I am pleased to share that since 1 July 2025, MWS has also been appointed as an approved provider for Marriage Preparation Programmes.

This year, our Family Services Group introduced a unified structure for FSCs that brings together leadership, operations, and clinical oversight. The new model strengthens clinical standards, enhances leadership visibility and stability, and positions us to contribute more strongly to sector priorities. Along with this, we are expanding career pathways and specialist skills to meet evolving needs and better serve families and communities.

STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR A SUPER-AGED SOCIETY

Responding to National Healthcare Shifts

Our Healthcare Services Group has also evolved in response to national healthcare strategies. Under the Integrated Community Care Provider (ICCP) plan of Ministry of Health (MOH) and Agency for Integrated Care, Singapore continues to shift toward a community-based, person-centred care model designed to better support our ageing population.

The ICCP envisions an integrated suite of four key service models for seniors:

1. Active Ageing Centres (AACs) – Supporting seniors to stay engaged, connected, and active in the community.
2. Home Therapy – Delivering physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the comfort of home.
3. Home Personal Care Plus (HPC+) – Providing enhanced home-based personal care, including support for frail seniors with more complex needs.
4. Senior Care Centres (SCCs) – Offering day care, nursing, and rehabilitation services for seniors with higher care needs during the day.

MWS currently delivers two of these care models: Home Therapy and AACs. Our AACs are making significant strides in transitioning to the AAC 2.0 framework, part of MOH’s Age Well SG programme to make services more accessible to seniors, keep them socially connected, and enhance care delivery within the community. In fact, in the financial year ending March 2025, our AACs supported nearly 10,500 seniors who were at risk of social isolation – a 74% increase from the previous year. This highlights a deep need for social connection among the seniors in our community today.

We are actively partnering with other Community Care Organisations (CCOs) to provide the remaining components, including HPC+ and SCC services. These partnerships are crucial in realising the full, holistic vision of community care outlined by ICCP.

With Singapore expected to become a super-aged society by 2026, our efforts to expand and strengthen this ecosystem are both timely and urgent. We are also co-developing and bidding with CCO partners for Integrated Community Care Services in greenfield areas, ensuring that we can meet community needs as new towns grow and evolve.

Aligning our Healthcare Model and Philosophy

In the meantime, we continue to strengthen our existing healthcare services. In FY2024/25, we reorganised our Nursing Homes to more fully embrace our My Second Home care model, grounded in our F.A.M.I.L.Y. care philosophy. This shift aligns with MOH’s refreshed 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing and reflects our belief that family-like relationships are essential channels of love, companionship, and support for dignified care.

We will be guided by the pillars of Clinical Excellence, Operational Sustainability, and Ecosystem Integration as we work closely with a steady network of volunteers, churches, and other community partners to continue enhancing our capabilities and capacity for holistic eldercare.

STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RESOURCES

In the past financial year, astute financial management and sharper strategic focus have enabled us to reap tangible benefits as we raised our operating budget from $65.7 million in FY2023/24 to $69.2 million in FY2024/25 – a reflection of the growing scale of our mission and operational scope. Importantly, donations also increased during this period, a testament to the trust that donors – both individual and institutional – continue to place in MWS. We are thankful for this renewed generosity and the partnerships it represents.

To ensure we remain agile in a dynamic landscape, we will be embedding stewardship as a core cultural value across MWS – that means to honour what we have been entrusted with – our people, our resources, and our mission – and to pass them on in even better condition – in service to the community.

To that end, we are committed to stewardship in four key areas:

1. People Development
   We will invest in growing our staff and leaders through structured learning, cross-sector exposure, and values-driven leadership development – ensuring that MWS remains a place where people grow with purpose and serve with heart.
2. Operational Excellence
   We will refine and harmonise systems and processes across services, and make better use of data and technology to improve efficiency and responsiveness to community needs.
3. Sustainable Growth
   We will be responsible stewards of our financial and organisational resources – building strategic partnerships and pursuing innovations that align with our mission and support long-term sustainability.
4. Mission Fidelity
   Above all, we remain anchored in our Christian mission and values. In the years ahead, we are committed to deepening our partnership with the Methodist community, recognising the Church as a vital partner in our mission to serve communities in need.

Through The Healing Nation platform, we will nurture a culture of volunteerism within the Methodist family – inviting more people to step forward in love and service. Our mission is not just about what MWS does – it is about growing a movement rooted in compassion, justice, and hope.

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

At MWS, we believe that people are our greatest asset and remain at the heart of our mission. The dedication and commitment of Team MWS has been nothing short of exemplary, and I am deeply grateful.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the MWS Board of Governance, Centre Governance Committees, Sub-Committees, partner churches, donors, volunteers and community partners. Your steadfast support and partnership have made our work both meaningful and impactful.

As we step into the next chapter, I am confident that our shared purpose and commitment to excellence will continue to guide us. Together, we will bring lasting impact to those we are called to serve.

Thank you for being part of this journey.