Annual District Highlights

District Highlights 2022-23

Supporting Grass-roots Families & Strengthening Volunteer Network

Our Neighbourhoods @ Kwun Tong

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, the underprivileged families faced severe economic stress and negative emotions could often pervade within households. In response to this, the Kwun Tong District Social Welfare Office (District Social Welfare Office) continued to address these challenges through cross-sector collaboration and the establishment of a local support network. Together with 46 different service units, including the United Christian Hospital (UCH), the District Social Welfare Office set up a working group for each of the 6 small localities within the district to implement a project called “Our Neighbourhoods @ Kwun Tong 2022-23” (the Project), which aims to address the unique needs of each locality and support underprivileged families by leveraging the strengths and resources of various stakeholders. Local organisations, small shops and charities established by the business sector, etc. also took part in related activities.
The Project included volunteer training workshops, various types of volunteer services, stress-relief workshops/experiential activities, as well as a treasure-hunting activity for enhance awareness of help-seeking. A total of 3 000 gift packs were distributed to underprivileged families within the district, with 1 500 of them sponsored by charities established by the business sector. The Project benefitted over 5 200 people. Participating service units responded positively, noting that the Project was able to establish a local support network and provide a platform for facilitating collaboration and resource sharing among organisations.

Mobilising Joint Efforts, Deepening Care & Enhancing Support to Elderly Persons, People with Disabilities and Their Carers

In the face of the challenges posed by an aging population, growing service demand from the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs), as well as the feelings of loneliness and social isolation brought about by the pandemic, the District Social Welfare Office endeavoured to strengthen support for the elderly, PWDs and their carers. This was achieved by coordinating and subsidising elderly centres, District Support Centres for Persons with Disabilities and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness to implement 10 district-wide support programmes. The programme activities included mobilising trained volunteers to make concern visits and calls to hidden elderly persons and their carers; conducting brief mental health screenings to facilitate early identification of those in need of follow-up attention; setting up a database for high-risk elderly; arranging for clinical psychologist to deliver talks on positive psychology; organising new sport activities to relieve stress for the carers of dementia patients and strengthen their support network; and running parallel groups to address the needs of both carers and those in need, enhance their support network and promote social inclusion. The programmes consisted of 46 diverse activities involving over 400 volunteers, benefitting around 8 000 elderly persons, PWDs and their carers.
To facilitate easy access to relevant community resources for timely assistance for service users and their carers, the District Social Welfare Office, in collaboration with various stakeholders, published service information leaflets on carer support services in Kwun Tong. The leaflets were distributed at various welfare service units, UCH, rehabilitation shops, social enterprises, clinics and community halls/centres throughout the district.

Kwun Tong District Youth Project

With the support of the Kwun Tong Schools Liaison Committee, the District Social Welfare Office co-ordinated the launch of 13 projects (collectively known as the Youth Project) by 13 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres in the district. The aim of these projects is to promote mental health of young people by identifying those in high-risk, fostering their diversified development, enhancing their resiliency and strengthening family support. The programme activities included self-understanding and emotion management groups, parent talks, parent-child activities and community exhibitions, etc. These activities benefitted over 7 300 people. The Youth Project also successfully facilitated cross-sectoral collaboration, with 6 units from other welfare services and 13 primary/secondary schools participating. Moreover, the District Social Welfare Office mobilised the Kwun Tong Co-ordinating Committee on Outreaching Service, which consists of youth service units in the district, to implement a district-wide youth project called “The Companion Scheme” (the Scheme). Social workers acted as companions and organised experiential activities to help young people with special emotional needs and difficulties alleviate tension and prevent drug abuse. The Scheme served over 110 targeted young people. Furthermore, a training workshop on mental health was organised to facilitate staff members’ understanding of mental health services when dealing with young people with emotional problems.