ENG-2020 — Page 221

11

Social Welfare

its auspices, with a commitment of around $15.5 billion benefiting about 720,000 cases. These included pilot programmes introduced to help the government identify measures that could be considered for incorporation into its regular assistance and service programmes. Fifteen such programmes have been incorporated into the government's regular assistance programmes since the fund was set up in 2011.

Child Development Fund

This fund provides children from disadvantaged backgrounds with personal development opportunities. Through the fund's projects, operated by either NGOs or schools, participants. draw up and implement their own development plans under guidance, learn to accumulate savings and cultivate intangible assets, such as a positive attitude, personal resilience and social networks, thus helping their long-term development. In 2020, there were 81 ongoing NGO-run projects and 41 school-based projects, of which 33 projects involving more than 3,100 new participants were launched.

Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care

This $1 billion fund subsidises eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure or rent and try out technology products to improve users' quality of life and reduce the burden and pressure on care staff and carers. By the end of 2020, grants totalling over $200 million had been approved for about 970 elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure and rent over 4,200 technology products.

Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities

This fund subsidises eligible organisations to organise arts activities and training programmes to enhance the arts knowledge of persons with disabilities, foster their interest in the arts and develop their potential. By the end of 2020, grants totalling some $36 million had been approved for 36 organisations to implement 59 arts projects.

Advisory Bodies

Social Welfare Advisory Committee

The Social Welfare Advisory Committee reviews social welfare services and advises the government on all matters of social welfare policy. In 2020, the committee advised the government on social welfare initiatives announced in the Policy Address and on suggestions about 2021-22 welfare priorities offered by the social welfare sector and other advisory bodies.

Commission on Children

The Commission on Children provides an overall steer on children's issues and sets policy directions, strategies and priorities for the benefit of children. in 2020, a consultancy study began on the feasibility of developing a central databank on children in Hong Kong, and a series of safety messages on avoidable child deaths was launched through various media. In 2020-21, 28 projects were approved under the commission's Funding Scheme for Children's Well-being and Development.

173