| Trusting the future: SHF Athletes Assistance Trust Fund gets to work
Amidst the management of a sport growing fast in Singapore, the Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF) has taken some time out to consider it's greatest asset, it's young and fledging national players. The SHF knew that they had to incept a financial vehicle to support players so as to allow them to continue playing hockey.
Hence the Athletes Assistance Trust Fund (AATF) was born in 2007 to support deserving national players financially. The belief that talented and dedicated national hockey players who have sacrificed their time, effort and faced with opportunity costs by donning national colours must be supported by the hockey community and the SHF. It is even more paramount that sustenance be given to players from less-privileged backgrounds.
The AATF was hence established by SHF with the following objectives:
•· Holistic Athlete Development
· Promoting and catering for a Holistic Athlete Development
· Produce successful, dedicated and responsible national and league players
· Nurturing players who will support hockey and aspire to represent Singapore in international events
•· Education and Career
· Improving education level of elite players
· Providing assistance with tuition classes
· Assist with entry into tertiary institutions in Singapore or abroad
· Scholarships and/or allowances to deserving players, and
· Personalised career advise
•· Leadership
· Building on leadership qualities of young players by providing:
· Opportunities to engage in community and school events
· Opportunities for attendance at key events/courses
•· Supporting promising and deserving hockey players through other recognised avenues, e. g.
· Travel grants
· Exhibitions
· Prizes
· Allowances
The AATF now has a start-up of S$80,000 and administered by a 3-member board of trustees. Associate Professor Koh Sock Miang and Mr Intekhab Kahn are members of the board which is chaired by Dr Kong Chee Seng. The board can only disburse 15% of the trust fund at any one time and each recipient can only receive up to S$3,000 per annum.
All beneficiaries must formally apply for support from the fund and to encourage transparency, eligibility criteria were set by the trustees. The criteria are as follows:
The beneficiary must:
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be a deserving current member of any national squad.
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establish financial hardship via a means test
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demonstrate outstanding hockey talent or potential
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demonstrate good leadership and deemed a good role model for Singapore hockey
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maintain an impeccable disciplinary record
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long service or capable of providing long service to the national team
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display acceptable academic achievements
The athletes must fulfil the application and selection process before the funds can be disbursed to them. They are accountable to the Trustees following their selection and may find that the support is withdrawn if:
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their commitment to the national team is unacceptable
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their home financial situation has improved
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their behaviour has become unacceptable, their display poor discipline or have been convicted by a court of law
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they have provided false information at any time
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they have failed to keep to the signed contractual agreement with the AATF
In line with the beneficiary athletes' accountability, the Trustees have to provide a quarterly report to the SHF Executive Committee and the Council. Along with this, the AATF will be subject to the same internal and external audit requirements as any other SHF accounts.
To ensure the sustainability of the AATF the SHF is allowed to receive monies from the following sources:
- SHF General Fund
- Singapore Sports Council
- Donations
- Fund-Raising events/projects
If you require more information about the AATF kindly address your queries to the SHF secretariat via their contact information available on this website.
The above article is part of a 3-part feature about the AATF and its beneficiaries. Next edition will be about National women's player Toh Li Min, our first female athlete to be supported by the AATF.
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