1. The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), in partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), today launched a new Social Services Heritage Trail. This is the first time Singapore’s journey in building a compassionate and caring society will be captured in the form of a heritage trail.
2. The Trail commemorates the nation’s evolving social service sector, showcasing key historical sites where communities have stepped forward to support those in need. It also reflects a deepening partnership over the years between the community and Government to address societal needs.
3. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has designated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals to recognise and celebrate the contributions of professionals in the social service sector. The launch of the Trail is timely as it spotlights and celebrates our social service professionals, who are the heart of the social service sector. The work they do is invaluable in uplifting society and strengthening our social compact. Many of them serve with passion and dedicate their lives to helping others.
4. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, who officiated the launch as the Guest-of-Honour, said: “From the early days of our nation-building to the complex social landscape that we face today, our social service professionals have stood on the front lines, serving those in need. We deeply appreciate the dedication of all our social service professionals, who work tirelessly to empower individuals and families to achieve stability, self-reliance, and social mobility.”
5. The Trail covers 14 significant historical sites within the Civic District and Chinatown areas, covering an estimated 3 kilometres. See Annex on the sites it encompasses.
Tour Formats and Docent-led Experiences
6. For the initial Trail rollout, students will conduct complimentary guided tours on a monthly basis, starting with fellow SUSS students and social service professionals on weekends. For others who might be interested to participate in the Trail, they can express their interest in the Trail microsite, depending on availability.
7. Each tour spans approximately two to two-and-a-half hours and accommodates up to 10 participants per group. While tours are currently conducted in English, plans are underway to introduce additional language options in Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
A Digital Companion for an Immersive Experience
8. To make the Trail more widely available and enable those keen to explore on their own, the public can access the interactive microsite. It features a dynamic map that guides visitors through the featured sites and their rich histories, bringing Singapore’s social service journey to life both on-site and online. This will help visitors navigate the Trail seamlessly while exploring significant landmarks along the route.
9. To further enrich the experience, the microsite includes immersive audio clips of interviews, offering firsthand narratives that highlight the significance of each site. All informational materials, including maps, are available online.
10. The Trail underscores the vital role of social services in shaping Singapore into a society of opportunities, where quality services are accessible to all who need them. It will continue to evolve with future editions that spotlight new sites to enrich the understanding of the impact of social services.
11. For further information and/or to indicate interest in participating in organised tours, visit the microsite at https://socialservicestrail.sg.
12. Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS, said: “The Social Services Heritage Trail is a powerful reminder of how far Singapore has come in building a caring and inclusive society. It pays tribute to the many individuals, community groups, and organisations whose tireless efforts laid the foundation for the social services we have today. At SUSS, we are proud to carry this legacy forward by nurturing future social service professionals and equipping them with the knowledge and values needed to support vulnerable communities. We hope this Trail will inspire more people to step forward and be part of this important journey of nation-building.”
About the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals
The Ministry of Social and Family Development has designated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals to recognise and celebrate the contributions of professionals in the social service sector. The Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals honours the invaluable contributions of over 20,000 sector professionals who work tirelessly to uplift those in need and empower families and communities. This builds on the Year of Celebrating Social Service Partners in 2023 and the Year of Celebrating Social Service Volunteers in 2024.
About Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
SUSS has a singular vision to be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts lives, regardless of age, background or life path. Their university is a vibrant tapestry of ages and experiences. From recent junior college and polytechnic graduates to seasoned professionals, parents seeking new horizons and individuals redefining their careers in their golden years — their diverse community comes together for one common goal: to empower themselves with an education that impacts lives and society.
They offer more than 110 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and interdisciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore's workforce.
Their programmes and courses are offered by six schools:
- S R Nathan School of Human Development
- School of Business
- School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences
- School of Law
- School of Science & Technology
- School of Social Work & Social Development (to be officially launched in Q3 2025)
Since becoming an Autonomous University in 2017, about 22,000 graduates have experienced their unique brand of education. More than 17,300 students are currently pursuing their full- and part-time studies with them.
The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplace learning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond.
For more information about SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg.
ANNEX - List of sites featured on Social Services Heritage Trail
Zone 1: Old Parliament Area – Government and Community Groups in Social Service Provision
1. Old Arts House – Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the colonial government’s approach to social service provision
2. Victoria Concert and Theatre Hall – Early instances of Government-Community partnership: Emergency Relief by British Military Administration and Salvation Army
Zone 2: UOB Plaza Atrium – Philanthropy
3. UOB Plaza Atrium – The role of philanthropy in supporting social services
Zone 3: Telok Ayer Street – Community Initiatives to Develop Self-Help Networks for Early Migrants
4. Nagore Dargah and Masjid Al-Abrar – Provision of social services by and for Indian-Muslim community
5. Singapore Yu Huang Gong Temple, Thian Hock Keng Temple and Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Building – Social Services provided by Clan Associations, Kongsis, and other Chinese community organisations
Zone 4: Ann Siang Hill to Maxwell – Provision of Various Social Needs: Housing, Healthcare, Education, Food, etc.
6. Ann Siang Hill Park and 64 Club Street (Former Pondok Peranakan Gelam Club) – Urban development and housing services provided by the state and community organisations, Malay-Muslim social support initiatives
7. 5 Kadayanallur Street (Former St Andrew’s Mission Hospital for Women and Children) – Provision of healthcare services by community organisations
8. Former Umar Pulavar Tamil School at Kadayanallur Street – The role of community groups in providing education, social service initiatives in the Indian community
9. Maxwell Food Centre – People’s and Family Restaurants, and Child Feeding Centres: Feeding the poor
10. Sago Lane – “Sick Houses” and end-of-life care for early migrants
Zone 5: People’s Park Complex to Havelock Road – The Road to Building Government-Community Partnerships
11. Block 32 New Market Road (Former NTUC creche) – Childcare services and early childhood education in Singapore
12. 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace (Former premises of Chinese Pauper Hospital/Tan Tock Seng Hospital – Tan Tock Seng Hospital and challenges to establishing Government-Community partnership
13. Furama Hotel (Former premises of Havelock Child Feeding Centre and Singapore Family Planning Association) – Community initiatives to address child poverty and family planning
14. Former Family Justice Courts (Old Ministry of Labour Building) – Roots of Government provision of social support: Chinese Protectorate, Social Welfare Department, and its successor agencies
Trail Map