Volunteering in Singapore

Moving to a new country is exciting on many counts—new places, new people, new experiences.

It can get overwhelming for some to deal with all the changes. You’re new to the country and neighbourhood and don’t know anyone. Everything feels unfamiliar and a bit scary.

Many seasoned expats will tell you that volunteering in your new local community is a great way to ease into your new life. Helping out people in need will give you a sense of belonging and make you feel more connected to your new home.

Volunteering in Singapore is a wonderful way to plug into the country and get to know its culture first-hand—you’ll get to meet people of all ethnicities and religions wherever you volunteer.

Wherever you come from, there’s a place for you to volunteer in Singapore. Known for its extremely inclusive and multicultural society, you needn’t worry about sticking out as you volunteer as an expat.

Ready to be a volunteer? This guide will show you exactly how to volunteer in Singapore and the myriad of opportunities you can explore.

• Why volunteer in Singapore?
• Types of volunteering opportunities in Singapore
• FAQs to help you get started
• Things to consider before starting

Why volunteer in Singapore?

You can find many social services and organisations in Singapore that represent those who are needy, disadvantaged and marginalised.

These agencies rely heavily on volunteers to support programmes for the beneficiaries. Volunteers are needed to assist the full-time staff, who are tied down with time-consuming administrative responsibilities.

Volunteering is not only about helping those in need; it's also known to have several tangible benefits for your mental and physical health. In truth, it’s not just you giving your time and energy—you receive so much more than what you give when volunteering.

You can make a difference

Many groups in the community are under-represented, underprivileged, and marginalised. Volunteering your time to help these groups can go a long way in bettering their lives, especially if you make time on an ongoing basis to help out. Many of these groups are non-profit organisations that struggle to raise funds consistently for their beneficiaries or lack volunteers to help out. Lending your support in whatever way you can would mean a lot to them.

You might learn new skills

Going in as a volunteer, you may expect to use your skills and talents to help organisations in need. However, if you sign up with an open mind, you'll unexpectedly find yourself given opportunities to learn brand-new skills. Helping at a soup kitchen may teach you how to cook. Or, you may also pick up photography skills if you’re asked to help in that area.

You can meet new people

One of the best things about volunteering—apart from making a difference in the lives of those in need—is meeting new people. If you're an expat, this is great—especially since you're embarking on a new life here in Singapore. Spending time with your fellow volunteers, you may find yourself making fast friends with them, bonding over a shared purpose. The beneficiaries whom you volunteer to help may also be unexpected friends, surprising you with their life stories and wisdom.

You will improve your personal well-being

There are plenty of studies showing that volunteering has great benefits for your mental and physical health. As you volunteer, you gain self-confidence and a sense of satisfaction and meaning, contributing to a better mood and thus helping to reduce anxiety and loneliness. This, in turn, helps improve your overall health.

Types of volunteering opportunities in Singapore

There’s certainly no lack of volunteering opportunities in Singapore. Wherever your heart lies, there’s surely an opportunity for you to contribute your time and expertise and make a valuable difference.

As for the kind of volunteer work you can look forward to, there’s definitely something for everyone. Whether you wish to contribute your specific skills or help out in whatever capacity is needed at events and programmes, you’ll definitely find something that fits what you’re looking for.

Here are some causes you can get started with at a glance.

Underprivileged

For all of Singapore’s modern-day success, there are still some people who are unable to earn enough to meet their basic needs of food and shelter.

In fact, about 3% of Singapore residents suffered from abject poverty in 2022— according to a study published by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) in 2025.

If you believe that everyone deserves a basic standard of living, you can do your part to alleviate poverty in Singapore.

Here's how you can help:

• House visits to distribute meals and do wellness checks.

• Guide and mentor those who wish to find meaningful work to improve their lives.

• Help out at a charity soup kitchen.

• Raise funds for grocery and food vouchers.

Special needs and disabilities

People with special needs and disabilities face an uphill battle in the smallest areas of daily living, even in Singapore where there is structured support to help them. 

It’s especially exhausting for caregivers, who shoulder both the physical and emotional toll of their special needs or disabled loved ones.

You can lend a hand to this community in the following ways:

• Befriend people with special needs in schools or care centres.

• Assist staff in running programmes and events.

• Accompany the disabled to and from their medical appointments.

• Provide emotional support to family members and caregivers.

• Guide family members and caregivers to obtain the resources they need to help their loved ones.

Transient foreign migrant workers

There is a significant population of transient foreign migrant workers here in Singapore, mostly employed in the construction sector or as domestic helpers in Singaporean homes. These workers are usually low-wage earners and depend on their employers for food, housing, and other basic needs—often leaving impoverished conditions in their homelands for a shot at a better-paying job in Singapore.

While most employers take good care of their employees, some workers are mistreated and turn to shelters and non-profit organisations for help.

You can help them improve their working and living conditions in the following ways:

• Donate and help sort items for migrant workers to improve their lives.

• Conduct courses and classes to teach new skills.

• Translation from English to foreign languages.

• Medical care for migrant workers.

Eldercare

With a rapidly 'greying' population, Singapore’s elderly population is growing exponentially.

The majority of seniors in Singapore are still healthy and able to live independently, but some with more complex conditions or with no existing family to rely on do end up living in long-term care facilities and homes.

Some elderly also attend daycare centres while their caregivers are at work to ensure that they are well taken care of and keep them engaged meaningfully. Have a heart for the elderly?

You can help in the following ways:

• Befriend the elderly in homes and keep them company.

• Assist staff in running programmes and events.

• Accompany them to and from medical appointments.

• Engage with and guide seniors in the community to keep them updated on how to use technology and the latest initiatives or policies they can benefit from.

• Provide haircuts and basic grooming in the homes.

Women and girls

In Singapore, women and girls who are in distress can turn to organisations that provide shelter and support as they get the help they need to break free from trauma or abuse. 

These organisations often also support teenagers who fall pregnant and don’t know where else to turn for help.

If you want to improve the lives of these women and girls, here’s how you can help:

• Befriend and counsel the women who are in distress.

• Conduct courses and classes to teach new skills.

• Provide mentorship to women who want to change their lives.

• Accompany them to and from medical appointments.

• Help teenage mums find the resources they need.

Drug awareness and rehabilitation

Singapore’s notoriously tough stance on drugs doesn’t mean that drugs aren’t a problem here.

In 2024, the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore (CNB) broke up 25 drug syndicates, some of which specifically targeted youths on chat platforms like Telegram. Worryingly, more youths seem to be falling prey to the dangers of drug abuse. The youngest drug abuser arrested in 2024 was only 13 years old. 

Drugs are known to destroy families and rob young people of their lives, but there’s always hope with proper rehabilitation. You can do your part in the war against drugs in the following ways:

Here's how you can help:

• Engage those in rehabilitation regularly to check in on their progress and keep them accountable.

• Conduct courses and classes to teach new skills.

• Help at programmes and roadshows to engage the community and raise awareness.

• Provide emotional support to those in rehab as well as their families.

Arts and Culture

If you’re an arts and history buff, there are plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy that in Singapore while sharing your love for culture with others.

You can volunteer in many national museums or art galleries in Singapore, or even conduct heritage tours in your local neighbourhoods if you’ve become so well-acquainted in your time here.

Here are some things you can do:

• Be a museum tour guide.

• Support exhibitions as a front-line ambassador.

• Help out at museum programmes.

• Assist with archiving or transcribing work of collections and exhibitions.

• Conduct neighbourhood heritage trials.

Animal welfare

In Singapore, pet abandonment rates are increasing and adoption rates are decreasing, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

This means that shelters are often overflowing with unwanted pets who are unable to find suitable adopters. There’s lots to do in this area to help these animals who have been abandoned by their owners and need to find new homes. Here’s how you can help:

• Assist in rehoming and adopting out the animals in the shelter.

• Wash, clean, feed, groom, and care for the animals in the shelter.

• Help out in the clinic.

• Help at programmes and roadshows to engage the community and raise awareness.

Environmental conservation

Thanks to its tropical location, Singapore is extremely rich in biodiversity despite its tiny size. Our tropical forests, mangrove swamps, beaches, and coral ecosystems are home to an array of wildlife, flora, and fauna.

However, a study has revealed that we’ve since lost about 37% of our wildlife in the last 200 years, with modernisation and urbanisation requiring widespread deforestation and land reclamation.

It’s never too late to make a difference in our beautiful environment, though. Here’s what you can do:

• Join patrols to collect data on the biodiversity of certain areas and keep the forests, beaches, and waters safe.

• Work with park horticulturalists to manage the landscapes and flora in public parks.

• Be a park guide.

• Start a community garden in your neighbourhood.

• Bird and wildlife tagging.

Safety and Security

Unlike many other countries, it’s not easy for foreigners to volunteer in disaster management and civil defence in Singapore. Many such opportunities require you to be a citizen or a permanent resident.

If you’re really keen on contributing to this area, don’t lose hope. Here are some ways you can still help keep your new country and neighbourhood safe:

• Join your neighbourhood patrol group to keep your neighbourhood safe.

• Provide first aid at community events.

• Blood donation.

FAQs to help you get started

All ready and raring to go after reading about these amazing volunteering opportunities in Singapore? Us too—there are so many things to do and so little time to get it all done.

Getting started may feel daunting, with so many questions swirling in your head. Don’t worry, though—we’ve got you covered. 

Where do I start looking?

If you already have a special soft spot for children or the elderly, want to contribute to the safety of Singapore or love animals—it’s easy. You can quite simply approach organisations and charities directly, finding them through a quick Google search and checking their respective “volunteer opportunities” pages.

Umbrella agencies in Singapore for volunteering:

• Community Foundation of Singapore.
• Civic Action Portal (National Youth Council).
• Mentoring SG.
• MSFCares Network.

If you’re not quite sure about the type of volunteering you’d like to get involved in, the best way to get a sense of the wide range of activities you could participate in would be through the Volunteer SG website.

First, sign up for an account at Volunteer SG to get started. Then, you can fill in your interests, skills and availability on this platform, and the positions that match your search criteria will be shortlisted for you. It’s as easy as that!

Do I need a work permit to volunteer as a foreigner in Singapore?

According to the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore, Dependant’s Pass holders may volunteer for charities, but they cannot receive any payment for their volunteer efforts.

So no, you do not need to obtain a work permit to embark on your volunteering journey in Singapore—as long as you hold a valid Dependant’s Pass.

Do I need to be a citizen or Permanent Resident (PR) to volunteer in Singapore?

Yes, you do need to be a citizen or PR for some types of volunteering—especially if you’re looking to help out in the security and safety of Singapore.

You'll also need to be a citizen or a PR if you want to work with the People’s Association (PA)—a statutory board under the Ministry, Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) in the Singapore government that oversees structured neighbourhood communities.

Most other volunteer opportunities should be open to you as an expat. If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to clarify directly with the organisation or agency you’re interested in working with.

Are there skill requirements to volunteer in Singapore?

The vast majority of volunteer opportunities in Singapore only need two things from you—your commitment and time.

Food distribution, house visits, helping out in programmes and events, and befriending beneficiaries can be done by anyone who genuinely cares. Even social media, photography, and admin work can be picked up on the job.

However, when volunteering to teach classes and courses, counsel beneficiaries, provide first aid at events, conduct guided tours, or help out in a medical capacity, you’ll need to be trained in these specific areas and have the certificates as proof. Some organisations will offer training to volunteers before they embark on their roles, so do check directly.

Things to consider before starting

What is your availability?

Are you available to volunteer on an ad-hoc basis, or regularly for a fixed day a week for a few hours, over a period of time? This will determine the kind of volunteer work you’ll take up. Events are more suitable if you’re only available occasionally, while supporting ongoing programmes or conducting classes for the beneficiaries would be something you can consider if you’re able to commit regularly.

Do you have personal commitments to attend to?

Before volunteering, consider your young children, parents or pets you’ll need to care of. Or any other work commitments that will take up your time. Being clear about your main commitments in your life will help you decide the kind of commitment you can spend on volunteering.

Are there any health considerations?

Some volunteer roles are quite physically demanding or require long hours of activity, such as biodiversity patrols, taking beneficiaries out on excursions, and sports programmes. Other roles are mentally and emotionally draining, such as those that require you to provide emotional support or wellness checks on the underprivileged living in poor conditions. Consider your own health or medical conditions when you consider how you’d like to volunteer. Your own mental and physical health is important, too.

Do you want to use an existing skill that you have or learn a new skill?

Decide if you'd like to contribute your skills to a cause you strongly believe in, to make a tangible difference. Skills like videography, photography, social media, advertising, operations, administration, and even people management are highly sought-after among volunteers—all agencies and organisations will need people like these who can contribute in these ways.

Are you looking to pick up a new skill through your volunteer work?

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try your hand at cooking and thought of giving it a shot at the soup kitchen. Or you’ve always wanted to work with social media, and you’re keen to learn how to make reels and posts for the organisation.

Some volunteer positions have legal or training requirements you’ll need to meet before you start. Always ask if any documents or training certificates are required before starting to avoid any inadvertent legal implications along the way. Starting on the right foot with all your documents and legalities sorted out is the best way to ensure your volunteer journey will be a smooth one.