Community SG

By Zul Othman, Source: CNA, Dated: 6/10/09

SINGAPORE: The idea of casinos channelling funds to help the aged might raise a few eyebrows.

But this could be a way for charities to seek an additional source of funding without depending too much on the government, said Ms Teresa Tsien, co-director of the Institute of Active Ageing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

“If this were to happen, these gaming operators could see that it is to their advantage and use this opportunity to practise their corporate social responsibility,” she said.

In Hong Kong, the Jockey Club Charities Trust launched a HK$380 million ($69.2 million) initiative for senior citizens in 1996 called Cadenza, which through training and public education programmes, was aimed at changing the way the public viewed the elderly.

The scheme also encouraged collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports has embarked on a similar programme designed as a first stop for the disabled, the elderly and their families seeking advice, referrals and financial aid.

Called the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL), it recently launched a $1 million Sustainable Enhancement for Eldercare and Disability fund for organisations that provide care services for CEL’s target groups on a project basis.

The idea of gaming operators or other businesses funding charity works might not go down well with some, but “we have to be self-reliant and face the reality that somehow you have to get the money from somewhere”, said Ms Tsien.

“Furthermore, getting the casinos to be part of a community exercise could help down play the negative image … to know that you are doing some good even when you are gambling.”

Ms Tsien’s suggestion may not be all that radical, as it is not uncommon for gaming operators in Singapore to donate to social causes. The Singapore Totalisator Board, for example, has been contributing to social and community causes using surplus funds from the operations of the Singapore Turf Club and Singapore Pools.

However, when contacted, Bishop Robert Solomon, vice-president of the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCSS), told MediaCorp that people “might have a problem with the idea of commercial gaming companies offering donations for community services”.

Gambling has its harms, he said, and the idea is a “controversial suggestion that doesn’t fit, in a sense”.

Ms Tsien was in Singapore last week for the Asian Gerontology Experience symposium last week, organised by the Council for Third Age (C3A) and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.