HKEX Impact Funding Scheme (Applicable to Recognised Social Enterprises) The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), in partnership with HKEX Foundation, has set up the HKEX Impact Funding Scheme (Applicable to Recognised Social Enterprises). The Scheme supports recognised social enterprises (SEs) to build scalable and impactful social projects focusing on the four key areas of HKEX Foundation, i.e. Financial Literacy, Diversity and Inclusion, Poverty Relief and Environmental Sustainability, serving a wide spectrum of people in need in our community. In addition, the Scheme also aims to promote the use of technology and innovation to address social and environmental challenges of the society. Application Details Date of Application The Scheme will be opened for online applications from 28 March to 28 April 2023.  Eligibility Has a clear social mission and revenue model, and Listed on the Social Enterprise Directory (SED) managed by the HKCSS; or Accredited under the Social Enterprise Endorsement (SEE) Mark administered by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises (HKGCSE); or Previously or currently supported by the government’s SE funding schemes, such as the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme (ESR) and Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project (3E) Fund Size The fund size for each ...

The Council has launched the second cohort of "NGO Changemakers Incubation Scheme", and a briefing session was held on 3rd March. This project uses Design Thinking' as the learning framework, and through a range of activities such as 'Design Thinking Bootcamp' and the "Cross-Sectoral Internship', we hope to incubate a group of NGO changemakers'. The provision of subsidies and prototype fund encourage organizations and participants to actualize the innovative ideas. Application of NGO Changemakers Incubation Scheme: Scheduled time: April to July 2023 (Approximately 12 working days) Qualifications of Participant: Middle management staff from social welfare organizations (including social worker or non-social worker ranks) "SWD subvented social service organizations" or "non-SWD subvented social service organizations" with at least 3 years of full-time working experience. Participants are not required to work in cultural creation related services. (Nomination by the management staff is needed) Type of Internship Organization (8 working days): Cultural creation-related startups, social enterprises, private businesses, industry collaboration platforms Video sharing (Cohort 1): Please see the PPT of Program Briefing for more details, and download the Application Form and Instructions. The Application period is from 4th March till 30th March 2023, 5 pm. Late applications will NOT be considered. We will arrange interviews with applicants and inform them ...

The government has just released the ‘Primary Healthcare Blueprint’ (Blueprint) in December 2022, proposing policy recommendations and objectives to improve the overall health status of the population, provide accessible and coherent healthcare services, and establish a sustainable healthcare system. Many initiatives are highly related to social welfare sector’s work. The stakeholder is also very concerned about the service development, and patients’ access to health services after the primary healthcare system reformed. Hence, the Council is going to organize a seminar, titled “Seminar on Primary Healthcare Blueprint Sharing. We have highlighted and summarized key agenda of “blueprint” for discussion. It helps workers to gain a deeper understanding of the relevant contents, and facilitate exchange of views. Details of the sharing are as follow: Date:  19th April, 2023 Time: 15:00 – 17:00 Venue: Room 202, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building, 15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai Targets:  Agency Member Language: Cantonese Quota: 25 people Please register online on or before 17th April 2023 (Monday). If you have any enquiries, please call 2864 2963 or email [email protected] to contact Ms Connie CHEN, Officer of Policy Research and Advocacy of the Council. We look forward to your participation. Thank you very much! Download Memorandum ...

Social welfare services are constantly innovating to accommodate changing social needs. To recognize and promote these innovative, inspiring and forward-looking practical experiences in the social service sector, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) has organized the “Best Practice Award in Social Welfare” every alternate year since 2003. It aims to recognize the outstanding performance of social services in promoting social welfare development, to encourage mutual exchange in pursuit of excellence, and to inherit outstanding practical experiences. Applications for “Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare 2023” are now open! Deadline for submission of applications is 16th June, 2023. This year, three categories of awards are established to recognize and promote best practices in the social service sector: Outstanding Social Service Award Outstanding Performance Indicators Award ( Innovation | Collaboration and Synergy | Impact ) Annual Thematic Award: “People, Society, Technology” You are cordially invited to join our upcoming 2023 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare -【Online Info Session】 to get to know more about details of the award scheme, judging criteria, application details, and important dates. One of the awardees of the 2021 Best Practice Awards will also share their project experiences during the session. 2023 Best Practice Awards ...

The healthcare delivered in the wake of the pandemic has further entrenched the pre-existing disparities between Ethnic Minorities and Chinese. To address these concerning disparities, our Working Group on Pandemic-related issues for Ethnic Minorities (2022-2023) has organized an upcoming capacity training for healthcare professionals.  According to the surveys*, there is a significantly high portion of Ethnic Minorities suffer from 1) obesity, 2) high blood pressure, and 3) high blood glucose. For example, Department of Health data shows that about 25% of female in the Hong Kong general population is obese, and community organizations working with ethnic minority estimated the equivalent figure for ethnic  minority female to be about 50 – 70%. Ethnic minority patients with diabetes are younger and more obese and have worse glycemic control. The physical health among Ethnic Minorities is worrying that chronic disease management and disease prevention needs to be critically addressed for this community.  The mental health among Ethnic Minorities also requires our attention as it is estimated that 44,000 Ethnic Minorities may be suffering from mental health issues with the urgent need for support*. Poverty, domestic and child abuse, and forced and arranged marriage are factors complicating Ethnic Minorities’ mental health. Like Chinese, Ethnic Minorities also have other factors affecting their health condition ...