Volunteer Login 
Children & Youth
Comprehensive Children & Youth Support Services
At Viriya Community Services, our community-based family services and mental health programmes are designed to support the well-being and development of children and youth, empowering them to thrive in all aspects of life. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including counselling, community programmes, mental health support, financial assistance, and therapy, all aimed at nurturing emotional, educational, and developmental growth in a supportive environment.
How Can We Help?
Casework and Counselling Services
Casework
Our professional social work practitioners are the central point of contact for residents seeking support and guidance within the community. Through a thorough intake assessment, we connect individuals and families to the relevant services and resources tailored to their specific needs. Our centres offer casework and counselling, providing personalised assessments and developing collaborative intervention plans to help clients overcome challenges they face.
We also offer casework and counselling services with a mental health focus, including support for families and children of parents with mental illness (PMIs).
Guided by our very own VCS Professional Practice Framework, VCS delivers a comprehensive suite of psychosocial programmes and services designed to address the diverse needs of the community. By integrating casework, group work, community work, and specialised programmes, our team ensures timely and effective support. We also work closely with community partners to address a wide range of issues, empowering individuals and families in their pursuit of well-being.
Our services
Our professional social work practitioners attend to enquiries about social services from residents in our community. Through an intake assessment, we link the residents to relevant support and services based on the assessed needs. We also collaborate closely with relevant community partners to support individuals and families on the following issues.
- Addiction
- Behavioural Issues
- Disability Issues
- Emotional Issues
- Family Issues
- Family Violence
- Health Issues
- Inter-personal Issues
- Mental Health Issues
- School Issues
- Sexuality Issues
- Youth Issues
Community Mental Health
Viriya Community Services (VCS) promotes mental wellness in the community and provides multi-disciplinary services to support individuals and families facing mental health challenges, helping them live fulfilling lives. We are dedicated to our vision of fostering a caring community where individuals and families achieve good mental wellness and lead fulfilling lives. Our mission is to promote mental wellness by delivering integrated professional social services to individuals, families, and the community.
Objectives
- To promote community mental wellness and psychological resilience
- To support individuals and families with mental health challenges
- To improve quality of mental health care through capability and competency building
Additionally, we provide specialised support for families and children of parents with mental illness (PMIs), addressing their unique needs through targeted interventions and family-focused care, ensuring positive outcomes for both parents and children.
Our integrated services also include proactive outreach to individuals at risk of mental health challenges in the community, providing prevention, intervention, and post-diagnostic support to empower individuals and families in their pursuit of mental wellness.
- Screening and assessment of mental health disorders
- Provide early interventions
- Information and referral
- Systemic casework
- Counselling
- Psychological assessment and therapy
- Grief and bereavement support
- Couple or family therapy
- Caregiver support
- Post-diagnostic and recovery support
Community Programmes
Group Work
Group work brings together individuals and families facing similar challenges, allowing them to share experiences, provide mutual support, and co-create or collaborate on solutions. Facilitated by our professional social work practitioners, these sessions leverage the strengths of participants, helping to build a supportive community and address shared issues, through mobilisation of community resources.
Currently, Whispering Hearts Family Service Centre (WHFSC) runs the following group work:
- Mental wellness support group
- Grief support group
Currently, Viriya Family Service Centre (VFSC) runs the following group work:
- Active ageing senior support group
- Caregiver support groups
- Grief support group
Project Calmscape
Families with parents experiencing mental illness (PMIs) face significant challenges. Financial strain from job loss and medical costs affects children’s access to basic needs. Children also experience anxiety over the risk of inheriting mental illness. The compromised emotional availability of parents can lead to neglect or confusion, while inconsistent parenting hinders children’s development, leading to behavioral issues and isolation. Additionally, children may face stigma and discrimination, damaging their self-esteem.
Parental mental illness has significant impact in the formative years of children’s development. The group work programme has therefore been intentionally designed to cater to a younger group of children, aged between 5 to 12 years.
Through the group work interventions, we aim to offer a safe space to share experiences, build social connections, and receive psychoeducation. These programmes teach coping strategies, foster resilience, and help children manage stress, supporting their mental well-being.
Community Work
At Viriya Community Services, we actively engage with the community to bring our services to individuals and families in need, fostering greater community cohesion and building strong mutual support networks. Our community work is guided by a framework focused on engaging the community, building capacity, forming partnerships, and getting to know the people. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen the community and ensure that those who need support have access to the resources and services available to them.
Some of our community work efforts in WHFSC include:
- Art for All Ages (AAA)
A platform for connective interactions across and between generations in the community through a participatory and experiential art approach. To give residents a voice, improve their mental wellness and connect through experiences.
- Project Open Hearts @ Nanyang
Partnership with SMU to bring sports to children residing in the Nanyang constituency.
- Bright Owl Project (BOP) / Teen Action Project (TAP)
Partnership with students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to provide weekly academic coaching to primary (BOP) and secondary (TAP) school students from low-income families.
BOP: Every Tuesday, 7pm-9pm (ages 10-12).
TAP: Every Thursday, 7pm-9pm (aged 13-16).
- Young Titans
To provide a safe space to promote the socioemotional well-being of children within the community through collaborative efforts.
Some of our community work efforts in VFSC include:
- Community walks and house visits
Financial Assistance Programmes
Children's Education Fund
Viriya Back-to-School Fund
Objectives
To support children and youths of families whose families are receiving casework services from Viriya Community Services (VCS) in preparing for their new school term.
Eligibility
- Applicant’s family is receiving casework services from VCS at the time of application till disbursement of the award.
- Applicant must be a Singaporean Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident
- Applicant must be studying in government or government-aided primary or secondary schools
- Applicant receiving any other scholarship or bursary can apply as well
- Applicant’s net per capita household income does not exceed S$800 at the time of application.
Value
S$100
Terms and Conditions
- Applications must be fully completed and submitted with required supporting documents. Incomplete or late application will not be considered.
- The support is for the year 2024 only and recipients may re-apply in subsequent years.
- The decision of the Management of VCS is final.
Viriya Bursary Award
Objectives
- To acknowledge and reward children and youths whose families are receiving casework services from Viriya Community Services (VCS) for their improvement achieved in their studies.
- To motivate and support children and youths whose families are receiving casework services from VCS to strive for even greater achievement in their studies.
Eligibility
- Applicant’s family is receiving casework services from VCS at the time of application till disbursement of the award
- Applicant must be a Singaporean Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident
- Applicant must be studying in government or government-aided primary or secondary schools
- Applicant must not be receiving any other scholarship or bursary (except for the Edusave Merit Bursary)
- Applicant’s net per capita household income does not exceed S$800 at the time of application.
Qualifying Academic Criteria
Achieved improvement of at least 1 grade point (i.e. 5 marks) in at least 1 core academic subject from SA1 to SA2.
Value
S$300
Terms and Conditions
- Applications must be fully completed and submitted with required supporting documents. Incomplete or late application will not be considered.
- The award is for the year 2024 only and recipients may re-apply in subsequent years.
- The decision of the Management of VCS is final.
Viriya-KPMG Scholarship Award
Objectives
- To acknowledge and reward children and youths whose families are receiving casework services from Viriya Community Services (VCS) for their excellent academic achievement in school.
- To motivate and support children and youths whose families are receiving casework services from VCS to strive for even greater achievement in their studies.
Eligibility
- Applicant’s family is receiving casework services from VCS at the time of application till disbursement of the award
- Applicant must be a Singaporean Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident
- Applicant must be studying in government or government-aided primary or secondary schools
- Applicant must not be receiving any other scholarship or bursary (except for the Edusave Merit Bursary)
- Applicant’s net per capita household income does not exceed S$800 at the time of application.
Qualifying Academic Criteria
- Primary: Achieved overall grades of Band 1 or ‘A’ in all academic subjects.
- Secondary: Achieved overall grades of ‘A’ in first Language and 5 other examinable academic subjects
Value of awards
S$600
Terms of the awards
- Applications must be fully completed and submitted with required supporting documents. Incomplete or late application will not be considered.
- The award is for the year 2024 only and recipients may re-apply in subsequent years.
- The decision of the Management of VCS is final.
The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF)
VFSC administers the funds from The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF). The funds provide pocket money to children and youths from low-income families to help them through school. The financial help also alleviate the stress faced by the parents in coping with the schooling needs of the children and youths while struggling to make ends meet.
Eligibility
- Singapore citizen or permanent resident.
- Studying full-time in the following institutions:
- a mainstream school (Primary/Secondary)
- a specialised/special education school
- a specialised independent school
- a religious school such as a madrasah
- a mainstream school (Junior College/Centralized Institute/ITE/Polytechnic/specialized independent school)
- From a family whose gross per capita monthly household of $750 and less.
- For post-secondary students, the applicant must be 20 years of age or younger at point of application.
Quantum
- Primary student: S$65 per month
- Secondary student: S$100 per month
- Post-secondary student: S$125 per month
Children Medical Programme
Launched in June 2010, the Viriya Children Medical Programme (VCMP) helps children who requires long term medical care from the SingHealth hospitals. The programme was subsequently expanded to all the medical institutions in Singapore.
VCMP also works closely with the parents and caregivers to meet the needs of the family, including the siblings of the direct beneficiary to ensure that their care and developmental needs are not compromised.
Programme Component
- Financial assistance to help with the increased cost due to medical needs.
- Casework to identify and meet varying needs of child and family.
- Caregiver support activities such as support group, self-care programmes.
- Family bonding activities to improve family relationships and resilience.
- Social and recreational activities to build mutual support network.
Eligibility
- Singapore citizen or Singapore permanent resident (PR). If he/she is a PR, at least one immediate family member must be a Singapore Citizen.
- Age 16 years old and below (at the point of application).
- Certified by a registered medical doctor as requiring long-term medical attention (i.e. of at least 6 months).
- Gross monthly family per capita income of $800 or less.
Quantum
Successful applicants are provided with S$100 worth of assistance per month and can be further supported by other VCS’ programmes and services.
Neurodevelopmental Assessments
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Intellectual Disability (ID)
- Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), including Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
Our assessment fees
Child (7 to 18 years old):
ADHD/ASD/ID/SLD assessment: $2,300
Adult (above 18 years old):
ADHD/ASD/ID/SLD assessment: $1,300
Note:
- If there is a need to investigate multiple neurodevelopmental conditions, this can be discussed during the initial clinical interview with the psychologist. In such cases, the assessment fees will be $2,800 (child) and $2,000 (adult).
- Child assessments come with a comprehensive report.
- Adult assessments include a summary report with key findings and recommendations. A comprehensive report, typically used for official applications, is available at an additional charge.
To book an appointment/refer someone to see our psychologist, please complete this Referral Form. We will be in touch with you.
Therapy
Viriya Psychological Services (VPS) is a specialised service that provides assessments and intervention for children and adults. Our team of clinical psychologists have expertise in a range of mental health conditions including:
- Anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, social anxiety, specific phobia)
- Mood disorders (e.g. major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder)
- Trauma and stress disorders (e.g. PTSD, adjustment issues)
- Obsessive-complusive disorders (e.g. OCD, hoarding, skin picking, hair pulling)
- Behavioural addictions (e.g. gambling, cyber-gaming, sexual, pornography)
* Personality disorders, eating disorders and psychosis are excluded from our services.
We work closely with individuals, families, community partners, and medial professionals to provide hoslistic support and enhance understanding of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Our services
- Individual psychological therapy
- Neurodevelopmental assessments
- Group therapy
- Psychoeducational talks and workshops
Our approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behaviourial Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dislectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
- Schema Therapy
- Positive Behaviour Support
To book an appointment /refer someone for counselling, please complete this Referral Form. We will be in touch with you.
* Appointments are available at VCS centres (Shrewsbury, Jurong West, Potong Pasir)
