The Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited (ISCOS) celebrates its 20th year in the reintegration of ex-offenders on 20th August 2009 at the Marina Mandarin Singapore. Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng will grace the occasion and launch a new initiative called Corporate Doors.
Corporate Doors is a joint effort between the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and ISCOS in engaging all business organisations to employ at least one ex-offender in its workforce. In the week running up to the launch, ISCOS has already awarded more than 50 companies a Certificate of Appreciation for their commitment to employ ex-offenders. SBF will receive a token of appreciation award for their effort in committing to engage more than 15,000 of the nation’s top businesses (SBF members) to employ ex-offenders.
As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations, ISCOS raised more than $300,000 through table sales, publication ad sales and cash donations to fund its “Gift of Hope” package for new members for the next three years. In 2008, more than 1000 new members received the “Gift of Hope” package bringing the total ISCOS membership to more than 9,000 since 1989. The “Gift of Hope” is an initial relief package that contains more than $50 worth of items that will help new members in his/her initial stages of release. The package contains, a stored value Ez-link card, a food court stored value card and grocery vouchers. ISCOS welcomes companies to come in to ‘maximise’ the “Gift of Hope” by providing other items that will benefit members. This gesture is significant as it portrays the support from society for the reintegration of ex-offenders
Another area in which ISCOS will use these funds is to help members to be trained and re-skilled at subsidised rates. This is especially essential as they must stay employable in an economic crisis like this.
Miss Indranee Rajah, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, will also come on stage to present a $50,000 cheque to ISCOS Chairman, Mr Andy Lim. The amount is from a donor in the Tanjong Pagar GRC who wants to remain anonymous.
The 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner to be held at Marina Mandarin will be a meaningful experience for members (ex-offenders), employers and the community as this not only marks the co-operative’s 20th birthday but the support given to ex-offenders to re-start their lives. Part of the programme includes an award presentation to companies like Underwater World, TCC Hospitality Group and SBS Transit Pte Ltd who will receive the “ISCOS Firefly Award” for providing employment opportunities to ex-offenders. SBS Transit Pte Ltd has provided ISCOS’ business, Mister Clean Pte Ltd, a bus cleaning contract for the past 14 years. This has seen the business employing at least 30% of ex-offenders in its workforce.
There will also be performances by Performing Arts Centre Singapore, whose artistes are made of up ex-offenders who will entertain the audience throughout the night. The highlight of the programme will be a “live talk show” section where 3 ex-offenders share their successful reintegration journey through ISCOS guidance.
The sale of raffle draw tickets will be sold throughout the night as attendees can buy/pledge multiple $50 “Friend of ISCOS” raffle tickets. The draw will be held at the end of the event and a lucky winner will walk away with a designer timepiece sponsored by Hour Glass. All proceeds of the draw will go directly to the progammes and services of ISCOS.
All attendees will take away a specially handcrafted clay starfish created by ex-offenders. “The starfish story is very meaningful; we may not always be able to throw back every stranded starfish back into the sea, however, each one that we throw back, makes a difference to that particular one. This is a significant analogy to helping ex-offenders.”, Miss Freda Tham, Executive Director, ISCOS.
ISCOS Backgrounder
ISCOS PROFILE
The Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited (ISCOS) was set up in 1989 to help with the reintegration of ex-offenders back to society. Our main purpose is to provide support for the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community through various programmes and services. ISCOS is an active member of The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network which spearheads the yearly Yellow Ribbon Project.
OUR MISSION
“TO PROMOTE SELF-ESTEEM AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE IN EX-OFFENDERS WHILE GUIDING THEM TOWARDS GOOD
CITIZENSHIP AND GOOD VALUE SYSTEMS”
Through the 5 pillars of ISCOS, Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship, Enrichment, Empowerment, programmes and services are formed to facilitate the reintegration of ex-offenders.
ISCOS has also a business arm in the form of RE Holdings Private Limited, where revenue generated through its businesses is used to sustain ISCOS programmes. The main social cause of RE Holdings is also to create job/training and entrepreneurial opportunities for ISCOS members. Currently, RE Holdings have 3 businesses under Call Centre One, I.M Boss and Connect Centre.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment instills economic independence in members and therefore it is very important that they have career paths that will help them fend off financial burdens. It also helps to keep them responsible in their job duties and stay away from crime. ISCOS has a job matching and placement unit that engages employers to hire members. Members walk in to seek jobs are often given help in the form of preparing their resume for a job interview as well as matching them with the jobs available. Members who are not ready for employment are placed into several job preparation programmes. Some members also seek for opportunities to be re-skilled and re-train to stay employable. ISCOS also has businesses like Mister Glossy and Mister Clean that continue to offer employment opportunities for members.
EDUCATION
Education is integral in today’s competitive and advanced society. It is an essential ingredient that provides not only knowledge but future career paths for an individual. More so for young ISCOS members, they are helped to be put back to school after their release to complete their education. ISCOS also provides secondary support to members’ children through the Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP). The programme provides tutoring and mentoring help to members’ children. The FGP children also receive a yearly book grant to purchase textbooks for a new school term.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Entrepreneurship is an area very much supported for members who have fresh business ideas and want to develop their own business. Members come forth to present their business ideas in which ISCOS help evaluate the feasibility of the business. RE Holdings’ I.M Boss Food & Beverage (F&B) franchise food stall model helps to prepare members who are interested in F&B business. This gives them a bird’s eye view of the business from the operations to finance. Members who are trained under this scheme will eventually be offered the opportunity to run their own guided franchise.
ENRICHMENT
Enrichment activities help members to interact and also help develop their self-esteem. Activities in the form of the ISCOS Football Club has been seen as successful platform in the reintegration of ex-offenders. It creates team work and team spirit which are essential tools when they rejoin society. ISCOS plans to develop many other recreation outlets for members so that they can come together to experience each other’s progress in their reintegration process.
EMPOWERMENT
Empowerment in the form of community service, helps members to experience the less fortunate among them. This is a realization of the capabilities they have to make a better life for themselves. Even through helping risk at youths, members are empowered when they cast their past experiences to youths who they can help prevent the fall into crime. ISCOS members often participate in giving back to society through school talks and many other community service projects.
CITATION FOR THE VARIOUS ISCOS AWARDS
1) PIONEER AWARD – PRESENTED TO MR EUGENE WONG
When Mr Eugene Wong was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises in 1989, he proposed that an organization be formed to help discharged inmates from prison / drug rehabilitation centres re-integrate into society.
One means of help was to offer employment opportunities through the enterprises started by ISCOS. He believed that with regular income, ex-offenders can achieve economic stability and contribute towards their families’ upkeep at the same time.
Under his leadership as Executive Vice-Chairman from 1989 to 2006, members were not only given a job but the more enterprising members were assisted in setting up small businesses, mainly through the cleaning, moving and car grooming enterprises that ISCOS started under the “Mister” brand name since 1997.
For his immense contributions to the Co-operative as founder and visionary, the Co-operative is pleased to award him with this award.
2) STAFF AWARD – PRESENTED TO MS CHEONG LISA
Ms Cheong Lisa joined ISCOS upon her graduation in 1992. She currently oversees the administration and human resource functions of the Co-operative as Admin Manager, while managing the cleaning business under Mister Clean Private Limited.
She has played a key role in the setting up of various business enterprises under ISCOS and RE Holdings Private Limited.
For her dedication to the mission of ISCOS, over a period of 17 years, the Co-operative is pleased to present her with the Staff award.
3) FIREFLY AWARD – PRESENTED TO SBS TRANSIT LTD
The first contract awarded by SBS Bus Services Pte Ltd to ISCOS dates back to January 1995, for the bus washing / cleaning services at the Bukit Batok Bus Depot.
Since then, ISCOS has been consistently servicing the SBS workshops. From 1998 to 2001, the Co-operative also provided routine cleaning services at 16 SBS Bus Interchanges and 13 Bus Terminals. These contracts enabled ISCOS to deploy many ex-offenders, and offer them a secure job.
Among these, some ex-offenders have progressed in the cleaning industry and have advanced to supervisory and management positions.
This long-standing working relationship has enabled us to continue to employ ex-offenders, some of whom have been with the bus washing project for many years.
In recognition of the strong support rendered to SBS Transit to an ISCOS enterprise over the last 14 years, ISCOS is proud to present the Firefly award to SBS Transit Ltd.
4) FIREFLY AWARD – PRESENTED TO TCC HOSPITALITY RESOURCES PTE LTD
TCC Hospitality Resources Pte Ltd specializes in providing just-in-time event management services and solutions to staffing problems faced by the hospitality industry in Singapore.
The collaboration between ISCOS and TCC Hospitality Resources has resulted in ISCOS members being employed as service personnel, housekeepers and linen staff. An ISCOS member has even been promoted to Recruitment Executive.
Besides employing ISCOS members, the TCC International Hotel School operating under the TCC Group aims to offer hospitality training courses at a discount to other members who wish to build a career in this industry.
In recognition of the support rendered to ISCOS members, through helping ex-offenders to be gainfully employed and professionally trained for a continuous career in the hospitality industry, ISCOS is proud to present the Firefly award to TCC Hospitality Resources Pte Ltd.
5) FIREFLY AWARD – PRESENTED TO UNDERWATER WORLD SINGAPORE PTE LTD
Underwater World Singapore is a unique and well-known oceanarium in Singapore. The collaboration between ISCOS and Underwater World Singapore has resulted in ISCOS members being employed as customer service personnel.
In May 2009, Underwater World Singapore has also sponsored a free guided visit for 50 beneficiaries under the ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP).
In recognition of the support rendered to ISCOS members, through employing ex-offenders and training them for a continuous career in the tourism industry, ISCOS is proud to present the Firefly award to Underwater World Singapore Pte Ltd.
6) APPRECIATION AWARD – PRESENTED TO SINGAPORE BUSINESS FEDERATION
The next award presentation is for an initiative that we called “Corporate Doors”.
Corporate Doors is a joint effort between ISCOS and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) to engage the business community to employ at least one ex-offender in their workforce.
Besides representing the voice and aspirations of 15,000 businesses in Singapore, SBF has taken the lead role to promote Corporate Social Responsibility among these business organisations through the Corporate Doors initiative. To date, more than 50 companies have pledged their commitment to employ ex-offenders.
I would like to invite Mr TENG Theng-Dar, CEO of Singapore Business Federation to receive the ‘Corporate Doors’ commendation award for their efforts in engaging the business community to employ ex-offenders.
Corporate Doors Media Coverage
For more enquiries please contact
Sebastian Aloysius
Marketing Services Manager, ISCOS
Tel: 6332 0368
Mobile: 84844210
Website: http://www.corporatedoors.org.sg/main.html
About Singapore Business Federation
For media enquiries please contact:
Gerald De Cotta, Tel: 6827 6896
Genette Koh, Tel: 6827 6874
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