Yellow Ribbon Community Project Appreciation and Awards Luncheon 2026 Mobilising Communities, Strengthening Families

1. SINGAPORE, 14 November 2026 – More than 29,000 families impacted by incarceration have received support through the Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP), with grassroots volunteers providing practical and emotional support to families during a challenging period in their lives. When a loved one is incarcerated, families may face financial pressures, caregiving responsibilities and emotional stress, often at the same time. Volunteers help connect these families to financial assistance, family casework and other community support services.

2. First introduced by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) in 2010 and managed by the Singapore Anti- Narcotics Association (SANA) since 2015, YRCP trains grassroots volunteers who visit families of newly admitted inmates to understand their needs and connect them with appropriate community resources and support services.

3. Today, SPS and SANA recognised the contributions of these volunteers at the YRCP Appreciation and Awards Luncheon 2026, graced by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr Edwin Tong. The annual event celebrates the commitment of grassroots volunteers who support families impacted by incarceration.

Growth and Impact

4. YRCP has expanded significantly since its inception, growing from 74 volunteers across eight grassroots divisions to around 1,100 volunteers from 93 divisions today. In recognition of their continued commitment, 20 grassroots divisions and 236 individual volunteers were presented with Long Service Awards (LSAs) during the ceremony.

5. This network of community volunteers serves as an important source of support for families who may face financial difficulties, caregiving challenges and emotional stress following the incarceration of a loved one. By linking families with appropriate community resources and support services, volunteers help ensure that families receive timely assistance and are not left to navigate these challenges alone.

Harnessing Technology to Support Volunteers

6. Themed “Mobilising Communities, Strengthening Families”, the event underscored how technology can support and empower grassroots volunteers in their work with families. In his opening address, Mr Edwin Tong highlighted the rollout of the YRCP Portal to five grassroots divisions in October 2026. The Portal will be progressively implemented across the remaining participating divisions, with the aim of onboarding and training all active divisions by the end of 2027.

7. Mr Edwin Tong emphasised that genuine human connection remains at the heart of YRCP. Technology serves as an important enabler of volunteers’ efforts. By streamlining administrative processes, the Portal allows volunteers to spend more time understanding families’ needs, offering empathetic guidance and connecting them with appropriate support.

Strengthening the Ecosystem of Support

8. Recognising that no single agency can meet every need, YRCP continues to strengthen its community partnerships to provide more holistic support to these families. Through these partnerships, volunteers can connect families with appropriate community resources based on their needs.

9. Deputy Superintendent of Prisons Jay Choo, Staff Officer of the Community Partnership & Family Policy Branch, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division at SPS said, “We look forward to seeing how purposeful technology can empower community work in the years ahead. As our volunteers adopt the YRCP Portal, it is reducing administrative work and giving them more time to listen, care and support families impacted by incarceration. Technology can make our work more efficient, but our dedicated volunteers remain at the heart of YRCP. As YRCP continues to grow, we will continue strengthening our partnerships with the community to ensure these families receive the support they need.”