Where no other funding is available, MILK assists with initial or interim funding to meet inadequately met or unmet needs whilst working to plug the gaps through programmes like Compassion Fund and Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) top-up subsidy.

•  Compassion Fund
  
•  ATF Top-up subsidy

1) Compassion Fund

MILK in partnership, with Students Care Service, launched the Compassion Fund in April 2006. It is a crisis response fund set up for students from low-income families in crisis as a result of death of a breadwinner, sudden illness or accident.  In 2006, 97 students and their families were assisted through the Compassion Fund Programme’s financial and other family assistance.

Objectives:

• To give early and timely financial assistance to students whose families are in crisis so as to prevent the crisis from causing them to spiral into poverty or other chronic family problems.
   
• To co-ordinate long-term help efforts and to give immediate relief and support to help students and their families to tide over the crisis.
   
•  To empower school teachers, principals and counsellors to identify and help students in family crises by having a ready pool of funds.

Partners: Students Care Service & Counselling and Care Centre

 2) ATF Top-up subsidy

The Assistive Technology Fund (ATF), administered by NCSS, provides persons with disabilities with assistance of up to 90% of the cost to purchase assistive technology devices, to pursue mainstream education or gain employment. Because of the co-funding principle, the amount of subsidy ranges from 40% to 90% of the device cost, depending on the applicant’s household income.  Often, applicants from low income families cannot afford their portion of the co-payment and hence run the risk of not getting the much-needed equipment at all.  MILK provides a top-up subsidy so that children from low-income families gain access to the much-needed equipment.

Objectives:

• To enable children with disabilities gain access to assistive devices that will allow them to lead active lives in mainstream society – education or employment.

Partner: National Council of Social Service