Singapore, 8 February 2024 – Keppel Limited, through its philanthropic arm, Keppel Care Foundation, has pledged $1,000,000 over three years to renew its partnership with SPD. Keppel’s donation will support SPD@Canberra, SPD’s new senior care centre, which caters to seniors with disabilities or who require rehabilitation or assistance with daily living, as well as the SPD Sheltered Workshop, which provides vocational training and supported employment to persons with disabilities.

The renewed partnership was launched today by Guest-of-Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, together with Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel, Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel, Ms Ong Toon Hui, President of SPD, and Mr Abhimanyau Pal, CEO of SPD, at the SPD Ability Centre. This comes at a significant milestone as SPD celebrates 60 years of supporting people with disabilities this year.

SPD@Canberra aims to provide rehabilitation and day care services for seniors with disabilities or who require rehabilitation services including physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy services. SPD@Canberra, which is slated to commence operations in the second quarter of 2024, is the first senior care centre to be located within an integrated hub. This will allow the centre to leverage the public sports and leisure facilities to support its programmes. SPD@Canberra will also engage the seniors in day care with activities such as adaptive sports, gardening, and bingo to keep them socially, physically and mentally engaged. $700,000 from Keppel’s pledge will support SPD in setting up SPD@Canberra and also provide subsidies to reduce the financial barriers to rehabilitation and day care services for the elderly clients.

Keppel will also donate $300,000 to the SPD Sheltered Workshop, which aims to help persons with disabilities develop and enhance their skills and improve their job prospects. In December 2019, Keppel committed $500,000 to SPD to help enhance the Sheltered Workshop and offer more support to its beneficiaries. Through skills-based volunteerism, Keppel’s staff also brought the Company’s capabilities in areas such as engineering, safety, and business development to enhance the Sheltered Workshop. With Keppel’s support, the SPD Sheltered Workshop revamped its e-shop in 2020 and launched an expanded line of products. By 2023, the annual sales of its online store had increased by more than 400%. Its trainees also acquired new skills in leather crafting, thus enhancing their employability. Building on the successful collaboration, Keppel’s latest donation will be used to increase production capacity at the Sheltered Workshop and also provide further subsidies to its trainees.

Beyond financial contributions, Keppel staff volunteers will be involved in both SPD@Canberra and the Sheltered Workshop. Keppel’s volunteers will continue to collaborate with SPD to improve work processes and the long-term performance of the Sheltered Workshop, and will also organise activities to engage the seniors at SPD@Canberra.

President Tharman said: “What matters most is the dignity that is preserved when older people stay active, and persons with disabilities are able to work. This renewed partnership between Keppel and SPD will offer them sustained opportunities to do so.”

Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel, said, “Keppel aims to make a positive impact in the community wherever we operate. With Singapore’s ageing population, there is an increasing need for care services among the elderly, which is even more acute among the elderly with disabilities. We are pleased to support SPD’s new senior care centre in Canberra, which is very much aligned with our growing involvement in the senior living sector. We are also continuing our support for the SPD Sheltered Workshop to empower persons with disabilities and enhance their employability.”

Ms Ong Toon Hui, President of SPD, said, “SPD has grown and adapted over the years to be a leading charity in Singapore, making an impact to the lives of persons with disabilities through a diverse range of over 20 programmes and services. With the continued support from Keppel, we are confident of doing more to serve the community in the coming years, especially in extending our services to seniors needing care. This collaboration is an excellent example of strong partnership between the private and people sector to achieve positive social outcomes, empowering our communities and promoting inclusion. Through such collaborations with like-minded individuals and corporations, SPD aspires to create a society where everyone, regardless of their ability can contribute, feel welcome and supported.”

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About Keppel

Keppel Ltd. (SGX:BN4) is a global asset manager and operator with strong expertise in sustainability-related solutions spanning the areas of infrastructure, real estate and connectivity. Headquartered in Singapore, Keppel operates in more than 20 countries worldwide, providing critical infrastructure and services for renewables, clean energy, decarbonisation, sustainable urban renewal and digital connectivity. Keppel creates value for investors and stakeholders through its quality investment platforms and diverse asset portfolios, including private funds and listed real estate and business trusts.