Description of Organization

In 2004, the Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF) was launched. The YRF is the first national charitable fund devoted entirely towards the development and implementation of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates, ex-offenders and their families.

YRF complements the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) and channel goodwill donations to support programmes and services that support inmates, ex-offenders and their families. YRP is a social movement that strives to build a more inclusive society by changing society’s mindset to give ex-offenders a second chance in life so that they can contribute and pay it forward to society.

Core programmes and services offered by YRF cover the following:
I. Rehabilitative and aftercare programmes and services for inmates and ex-offenders including tertiary education and skills upgrading for better employment prospects, interest groups to build their prosocial network etc.
II. Programmes and services to support and reconnect ex-offenders and their families, including financial assistance to support their families’ needs and support for children of incarcerated parents to prevent intergenerational offending.
III. Public awareness programmes to foster a more inclusive and cohesive society

Intended use of funds through the YFC programme

Funds raised will go towards supporting the following programmes:
I. YRF STAR Bursary – provides financial assistance to low-income ex-offenders who wish to pursue tertiary education or skills-based training after their release.
II. Yellow Ribbon Enabling Fund – interim financial assistance scheme to help ex-offenders with their daily subsistence as they transition from prison to the community upon release
III. Residential Aftercare Support Programme – provides temporary shelter and support for ex-offenders, aiming to help them secure long-term accommodation

Engaging and involving the YFC participants

We will invite them to our Headquarters at Changi for a sharing where they can hear firsthand experiences from ex-offenders and the challenges that they had to overcome. The sharing will also include the works of the Yellow Ribbon Project and Yellow Ribbon Fund and how they, as youths, can contribute to a more inclusive society by advocating for second chances. Students can also visit the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) Heritage Gallery where they can learn more about the rich history of SPS from the 1800s till the present day. The gallery showcases the SPS’s transformation from a custodial to a leading correctional agency and pays tribute to the contributions of the earlier generations of Captains of Lives.