Highlights of the Year 2020-21

Fee Waiving Subsidy Scheme Under After School Care Programme

SWD provides annual recurrent funding for the provision of fee-waiving places under the After School Care Programme (ASCP) and Enhanced ASCP to parents who are unable to take care of their children after school because of work, job search or other reasons but cannot afford the fees of ASCP service. In response to the keen demand for ASCP service, the Government has implemented a host of enhancement measures, including regularisation of the Pilot Scheme on ASCP under Community Care Fund, addition of 2 500 full fee-waiving places, relaxation of application eligibility, streamlining of means-test procedures, increase of subsidy level and provision of extra subsidy to children with special educational needs, etc. since October 2020.

Child Development Fund

The Government established the Child Development Fund (CDF) in 2008 so as to draw on the resources from families, the private sector, the community and the Government to promote the longer-term development of children from disadvantaged background aged between 10 and 16 or those studying primary four to secondary four. CDF funds projects operated by NGOs and schools in batches throughout the territory. As at March 2021, 8 batches of 169 projects operated by NGOs and 7 batches of 71 school- based projects operated by schools were rolled out, benefitting more than 21 000 children.

Ounselling Centres For Psychotropic Substance Abusers And Centre For Drug Counselling

Starting from October 2020, the Government has increased the financial allocation for 11 Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers and 2 Centres for Drug Counselling to add 2 peer support workers (PSWs) for each centre. Through emotional and empathetic support and various activities such as interviews, visits, escorts, groups as well as prevention education and publicity programmes, PSWs have strengthened the capability of the centres in early identification, engagement, treatment and rehabilitation and support for drug abusers and their family members.