Celebrating Five Decades of Rehabilitation,
Reintegration and Second Chances

Singapore Prison Service (SPS) established the Prison Industries Division in 1955 to set up and operate workshops inside prisons to provide inmates with simulated work experience as part of their rehabilitation.

To improve operational efficiency and business flexibility, SCORE was established as a statutory board on 1 April 1976. It took over the functions of Prison Industries Division, which were then operating traditional services such as bookbinding, woodwork, cane work, tailoring and footwear manufacturing.

SCORE introduced vocational training in prisons, equipping inmates with practical skills for their reintegration. Inmates were prepared for public trade tests conducted by the Vocational and Industrial Training Board, leading to the award of trade certificates. Part of a broader effort to modernise its industries and enhance the rehabilitative value of its programmes, this initiative recognised the importance of employability in reducing reoffending.

In 1985, the government amended the Prisons Act to introduce work release and pre-release employment schemes, enabling eligible inmates towards the tail-end of their sentences to work in the community during the day. This approach provided a structured, supervised pathway for gradual reintegration and employment experience.

With this change, SCORE started working with employers to offer jobs to inmates, marking its first step in involving the community in rehabilitation.

The SCORE Act was amended, with the insertion of Para 15 (g):

"To provide or secure the provision of rehabilitative and aftercare services to prisoners and inmates before and after their discharge from custody and to assist the provision by others of such services."

This reflected SCORE's focus on aftercare support to ex-offenders after their release and ensure seamless reintegration into the community.

With the new mandate, SCORE formed a social co-operative, ISCOS, in 1989. The objective of ISCOS was to create an inclusive community for ex-offenders and their families through extending social support.

Recognising the need for throughcare support, an Aftercare Division was set up in 1990 to identify, promote and provide a full range of aftercare services to released ex-offenders and their families, reinforcing the importance of holistic rehabilitation.

The establishment of the Job Placement Unit further enhanced SCORE's capabilities in securing employment opportunities for ex-offenders, creating a more holistic approach to rehabilitation and reintegration.

The CARE Network, an alliance of social service agencies and government organisations with the common goal of improving the effectiveness of rehabilitation of ex-offenders in Singapore, was formed. SCORE and SPS co-chaired CARE Network.

"Twilight Kitchen" was a community film presented by the CARE Network that aimed to shift public perceptions towards ex-offenders. The movie also garnered support from employers for the rehabilitation of the inmates and to provide jobs for the ex-offenders.

It was followed by "Coming Home" in 2004 staring Moses Lim and Irene Ang. In 2025, "One More Chance" directed by Jack Neo was produced with a theme song composed by winner of the YRP song writing competition.

SCORE demonstrated its vital role in supporting Singapore's healthcare system during the 2003 SARS crisis when its Linen Services Unit provided laundry services to hospitals. The dedication of 48 staff was recognised with the 2003 National Day Awards for Overcoming SARS, including the President's Certificate of Commendation and Courage Medals.

Then-CEO of SCORE, Mr Jason Wong, conceived a unifying theme of using the Yellow Ribbon to advocate for the acceptance of ex-offenders by the community.

The YRP was officially launched by former President of Singapore, S R Nathan, at the Yellow Ribbon Charity Concert. This marked the start of the national campaign under the CARE Network to galvanise society and bring about societal acceptance of ex-offenders and their families.

The YRF was established in the same year as the first national fund dedicated to support ex-offenders and their family members.

The inaugural Yellow Ribbon Job Fair, co-organised with Northeast CDC, was supported by 17 companies offering 600 vacancies to pre-release inmates. This milestone of bringing companies into prisons, unheard of at that time, allowed inmates to secure a job before their release and laid the groundwork for community acceptance at the workplace.

The first Tie-A-Yellow-Ribbon Walk kicked off from Changi Prison Complex to Pasir Ris Town Park, symbolising an ex-offender's journey from incarceration to freedom. It marked the start of a signature community engagement event which subsequently evolved to become the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run.

The inaugural Yellow Ribbon C2C Award Ceremony was organised to recognise individuals who made significant progress in their rehabilitation journeys and demonstrated their commitment to contributing back to society.

The first Yellow Ribbon Prison Run was launched, becoming one of the flagship public engagement events. Flagged off by former Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, the event drew 6,000 runners in a watershed moment of community action. Starting from Changi Village with the finish line inside Changi Prison Complex, it was a powerful, symbolic act which physically broke the barrier between the community and the correctional facility.

YRI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of YRSG, was set up in November 2016 to offer transitional work and training to newly released ex-offenders, promoting stability and employment. It provides laundry and linen management services, food and business solutions, and transitional residential programmes. YRI offers inmates valuable opportunities to develop vocational skills and cultivate positive work ethics, thereby enhancing their employability and prospects for successful reintegration.

The rehabilitation ecosystem was further strengthened with the opening of the SHWH, managed by YRI. This facility marked a pivotal development in providing additional halfway-care and structured aftercare support for eligible inmates under the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme and Community-Based Programmes, bridging the gap between incarceration and full reintegration into society.

Reflecting its broader mission and renewed focus on rehabilitation, SCORE was rebranded as YRSG in May 2020. This milestone signified a renewed ambition to uplift the lives of ex-offenders and their families.

Following the rebranding, YRSG reviewed its Vision, Mission, and Values in 2021, to ensure focus and clarity in its work, which is to lead and inspire community action to support rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders. The tagline "Beyond Second Chances" was also adopted to reflect the belief that ex-offenders are not mere recipients of support, they can pay it forward and contribute back to society.

YRSG launched the TAP & Grow initiative to partner like-minded employers, trade associations and training institutions to establish training academies in prison. This allows inmates to undergo industry-specific training, develop the requisite skills to secure jobs in relevant industries such as Media, Precision Engineering, Logistics, Food & Beverage and grow in their new careers upon release.

Singapore introduced UEC, a time-limited wage offset for employers who hire ex-offenders, demonstrating high-level support for employment reintegration. This was made possible through collaborative efforts between Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Manpower, SPS and YRSG.

YRSG marks its golden jubilee in 2026, celebrating five decades of empowering individuals, transforming families, and uniting communities.