North West CDC refreshes council to strengthen community support and volunteerism

North West Community Development Council (CDC) is set to appoint 62 District Councillors to its 10th Term of Council, with 25 new faces. This year’s appointment ceremony is held in conjunction with North West CDC’s triennial District Meeting. This marks a new chapter for the CDC, as it reflects on the past three years of community impact and looks ahead to deepening its support for residents across the district. In its current term, the CDC has expanded its efforts to support residents at different stages of life, from providing targeted social assistance and connecting residents to upskilling and employment opportunities, to creating more ways for residents to stay active, give back and build stronger community connections. The refreshed council line-up brings together diverse expertise spanning healthcare, social services, technology, and the private sector, strengthening North West CDC's ability to support residents navigating an increasingly complex range of needs.

2 The North West Council District Meeting and Council Appointment Ceremony 2026 will be held on 18 September 2026 at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and graced by Guest-Of-Honour (GOH), Mr Lawrence Wong, Prime Minster and Minster for Finance. The event will recognise partners and volunteers for their contributions over the past three years, celebrate the achievements of the 9th Term of Council, and mark the official appointment of the 10th Term as North West CDC charts the way forward for the next three years.

3 Over the last three years, the CDC has strengthened support for residents while creating more opportunities for the North West community to connect and contribute. Under the Caring Communities, the CDC's local assistance programmes have supported 198,587 beneficiaries. Among the key highlights was the launch of Ready Meals @ North West, which is expected to support up to 6,000 families with affordable and convenient meals at $3 and below, signalling an on-the-ground response to keeping everyday essentials within reach amid cost-of-living pressures. This programme is a value addition to the CDC's ecosystem of support, complementing existing schemes such as Project Sama Sama @ North West, North West Food Aid Fund and North West Service Weeks. On the Healthy Living front, the Healthy Living Festival @ North West was launched to offer residents curated lifestyle experiences, sports try-outs, and wellness activities, drawing more than 21,000 participants over three years and promoting holistic wellness for residents of all ages while strengthening community bonds. Street Dance @ North West also made its debut, engaging over 200 youths through their passion for dancing and encouraging residents of all ages to lead an active lifestyle.

4 Across the Sustainable, Learning, and Inclusive Communities, the CDC continued to grow its programmes and deepen its impact. The North West Sustainability Festival engaged over 15,000 residents through workshops and educational activities that nurtured a green mindset and fostered behavioural change. As part of its efforts to build an Inclusive Community, the Interfaith Network @ North West brought together 800 participants who visited 9 religious organisations, providing a safe platform students to engage in open conversations, deepen their understanding of different religious beliefs and practices, and embrace diversity, nurturing the next generation to be more accepting of one another. On the learning and employability front, SkillsFuture Advice @ North West has supported 29,000 residents in their lifelong learning journey, helping them take up training and acquire new skills to grow both personally and professionally. Since the launch of Jobs Nearby @ CDC last October, our Job Ambassadors have also helped more than 1,200 jobseekers through 36 Community Job Clinics and Job Fairs. For our youths, North West Youth Assembly cultivated volunteerism among 125 youths, empowering them to lead 40 community projects and gain meaningful community service experience.

5 Looking ahead, the CDC will deepen its support for North West residents while strengthening community participation and enabling more resources to be channelled towards needs on the ground. The key areas of focus, which will be announced at the ceremony, include:

• To better support families in the early stages of parenthood, the CDC will introduce a new programme from April 2027, providing up to 3,000 baby packs annually and bringing approximately $600,000 in support to parents with newborn each year. The packs will include baby essentials and vouchers valued up to $200 to help families with their immediate needs as they embark on their parenting journey.

• To uplift lower-income households, the Per Capita Income (PCI) eligibility threshold will be raised to $1,500 from the current $1,000, allowing approximately 6,000 more residents to qualify for North West CDC financial assistance schemes and receive the support when they need it.

• To strengthen community development efforts, the CDC will grow the number of ground-up projects supported from approximately 300 to 400 over the next three years, creating more opportunities for groups and organisations to step forward and make a meaningful difference in their communities. Volunteers, schools, community groups and organisations can tap on the North West WeCare Fund and North West GIRAFFE Fund, which provide up to $10,000 in funding per project for community and environmental initiatives respectively.

• To enable Divisions to do more for residents, the CDC will enhance the Divisional Matching Grant Vote (DMGV) by increasing the matching ratio from 1:1.5 to 1:2.5, capped at $80,000 per Division. This will enable them to roll out more initiatives to strengthen community bonds, promote racial harmony and unity, and respond to the needs of residents.

6 Highlighting the importance of District Councillors in driving the CDC’s work, Mayor of the North West District, Mr Alex Yam, says “The past three years have been a meaningful chapter for North West District and the community, made possible by the networks, expertise, and dedication of our District Councillors. As we look ahead, we will continue to strengthen support for our residents by welcoming new families, reaching more households in need, and empowering our Divisions to do even more for the community. I look forward to building on this foundation together with our new and returning District Councillors.”

7 The refreshed council brings together diverse expertise spanning healthcare, social services, education, and the private sector. Among the returning District Councillors is Ms Vanessa Ong, 49, Managing Director of Gernise Global Pte Ltd, who steps into the role of co-chair of the Green Living Standing Committee for the first time. A passionate advocate for sustainability, she brings her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to green living to the fore. Beyond championing environmental causes, Vanessa has also been a dedicated supporter of families in need, having been part of the Club-100 @ North West community since 2023 and more recently serving on its Organising Committee to raise funds to support the underprivilege.

8 Behind North West CDC's work is a strong network of corporate and community partners whose contributions have deepened its impact on the ground. One of the CDC's corporate partners, Micron Technology has played a key role in strengthening the CDC’s impact on the ground, consistently mobilising volunteers to serve residents and participants across a range of programmes and events over the past three years, reflecting the company's deep commitment to giving back to the community. The CDC also works closely with community partners such as Boys' Town, which has been a steadfast partner in youth development and social services, helping to connect residents with meaningful opportunities and bringing its expertise in community care to the ground.

9 The CDC will continue to work closely with the 10th Term of Council members, leveraging on their expertise to strengthen the spirit of care in the North West, aggregate available resources, build capabilities and connect partners to community needs, in line with the CDC’s mission of building a Caring and Healthy North West community. For more information or to find out about partnership and volunteerism opportunities and support, please visit www.northwest.cdc.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab).