Annual District Highlights

District Highlights 2024-25

Recognising the Contributions and Needs of Carers, and Supporting Singleton/Doubleton Elderly Households and Persons with Disabilities

To strengthen support for elderly persons, people with disabilities and their carers, the District Social Welfare Office (DSWO) coordinated and subsidised elderly and rehabilitation services units, Integrated Family Services Centres (IFSCs) and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) in the district to organise a variety of activities. These included a free screening of the movie Inside Out 2, the Recognition Ceremony for Carers 2024, and the Winter Warmth Campaign 2024-2025, which was co-organised with The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited and involved the distribution of 1 800 packs of soup ingredients to the elderly during home visits. These events benefited about 2 500 participants in total. The DSWO also collaborated with IFSCs and elderly and rehabilitation services units in the district to set up Carer Hubs in all seven IFSCs, so as to provide carers with a mutual support platform at fixed venues and times. 13 sessions of activities are held every month, with an aggregate attendance of over 2 000 carers.

Strengthening Family Functioning, Protecting Children, and Preventing Domestic Violence

The “Caring Neighbourhood Sponsorship Scheme 2024”, organised by the DSWO, subsidised 42 service units to carry out a wide range of programmes aimed at encouraging residents to build and consolidate their community support networks. The Scheme benefited more than 8 900 participants and engaged over 730 volunteers. Besides, about 460 groups and programmes were organised by IFSCs and Family and Child Protective Services Unit, in collaboration with Outreaching Teams for Ethnic Minorities, to enhance family functioning and promote social inclusion. These efforts benefited about 13 700 participants in total. One of the highlights was the “Happy Family Day 2024”, which engaged more than 200 participants from underprivileged families in the district through parent-child games, crystal ball painting, and family photo sessions. The event aimed to encourage families to spend more quality time together, strengthen family communication, and promote the message “Strengthening Families and Combating Violence”.

Raising Awareness of the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Young People, Promoting Positive Psychology, and Providing Early Identification and Support for Youth in Need

The DSWO, in partnership with the Local Committee on Services for Young People and over ten service units focusing on youth mental health and drug abuse issues, implemented a series of school programmes under the “Project for Promoting Positive Psychology at School 2024-25”. During the 2024-25 school year, the Project promoted positive psychology and provided counselling services to over 1 450 students from eight primary schools, secondary schools, and tertiary institutions.