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The work of TRANS first took root in the 1970s with a small group of volunteers. The passionate volunteers worked tirelessly to engage youths-at-risk via informal activities such as street camps, mass games and tuition.
This gave rise to the Bedok Outreach Project (aka Project Khidmat Belia) in 1979.
As activities increased, a space of 45m² – the size of a 2-room rental flat – at the void deck of Blk 13 Bedok South was rented to serve the purpose.
In 1987, the organisation was registered as a society under the name Temasek Reachout and Neighbourhood Service (TRANS) Centre, lovingly called TC.
TC soon expanded its space to a bigger unit at the void deck.
At TC, youths found purpose through their participation in soccer, basketball and other activities. The Centre also started socio-educational programmes to support children from vulnerable families.
In the 1990s, the work at TRANS Centre had grown so much that the space was far too small to accommodate the staff, volunteers and clients.
Thus, TC moved to the present premise at Block 411 Bedok North and developed into a full-fledged Family Service Centre with an increased staff strength of 12.
The location was chosen as it was centralised in Bedok and easily accessible to more clients. Professional counselling services and family centered-work were increased to better meet the needs of the community.
In 2001, armed with the zeal to assist more people, TC started another Family Service Centre and a Students’ Care Centre at Blocks 1 and 3 at Toh Yi Drive, Bukit Timah respectively.
In response to the issue of elder abuse and neglect in Singapore, TC pioneered elder protection work in 2003.
By 2007, the work evolved into a specialised centre, SAFE@TRANS. It is located at Block 410, Bedok North and had since become the lead agency in elder protection in Singapore.
To better reflect the growth of the organisation, TRANS Centre was officially rebranded in 2010 as TRANS Family Services.
In 2011, after 11 meaningful years, TRANS Student Care Service closed its doors as shifting demographics led to declining enrolments.
Using the same premise, TRANS began working with seniors to promote active ageing. The programmes received overwhelming response and TRANS FOCUS Centre was officially launched in 2014, becoming a place the seniors could call their second home.
It is now known as TRANS FOCUS Active Ageing Centre.
In 2016, TRANS Family Services was selected to operate yet another Family Service Centre at Bedok Reservoir Road; an area that was underserved.
To date, TRANS Family Services is proud to be serving the community through 6 centres with a staff strength of more than 100.
The work of TRANS is best summed up by our former Board Member, Mr Lee Chuan Teck: “It is the character of TRANS to anticipate and respond to the society’s needs”.
