History

The Hong Kong Family Welfare Society was known originally as the Social Service Centre of the Churches, established in 1938. The Society became an independent non-governmental organisation on 1st January 1949 with the initiation of the Rt. Rev. R. O. Hall and the expert assistance of Miss Katherine Scott-Moncrieff, a well-known social worker from the United Kingdom. Backed by the interest and concerns of a group of people from different Christian denominations, the Society was founded with the basic aim of helping families in distress through casework. In the early days, just after World War II, the Society helped with relief work for all people in need, including those who had been released from concentration camps set up during the occupation.

Milestones

40's

1949

The Hong Kong Family Welfare Society was formally established as an independent charitable agency. It provided direct assistance to families in difficulty, such as the provision of financial loans and sponsorships, distribution of food and clothing, assistance for employment and the operation of a free school

70's

1971

Launched the “School Social Work Service”

1972

Piloted the “Home Help Service”

1973

Pioneered the “Family Life Education” pilot scheme

80's

1984

Launched the Foster Care Service

1985

Launched the Mental Health Group service, which was funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club

1988

With the sponsorship of The Community Chest, the Society set up the "Family Resource Centre"

This is its first centre to apply the concept of a locally based drop-in centre supporting families in Tuen Mun and provide territory-wide services to support single-parent families.

90's

1993

Introduced the "Emergency Foster Care Service”

1997

Set up “Divorced Mediation Service”

1999

Established “Zonta White House” – Family Retreat Centre

00's
Established the first “Mediation Centre”

2001

Established the first “Mediation Centre” among NGO welfare agencies in Hong Kong to provide family mediation and community mediation services. Sponsored by The Hongkong Bank Foundation, the Society also launched the Peer Mediation Project in 2001

The Society’s first

2004

  • The Society’s first "Integrated Family Service Centre” was formally opened
  • The Society established 5 Integrated Family Service Centres to provide one-stop integrated family services to families in the community
  • Implemented the "Family Volunteering Movement”
  • Set up "Carers Support Stations”
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club to launch the “Bridge to Competence Project”

2005

Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club to launch the “Bridge to Competence Project”

Awarded “2010 Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-being Gold Award” by Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asia Region (CIFA)

2010

Awarded “2010 Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-being Gold Award” by Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asia Region (CIFA)

The Society awarded the Certificate of Honor by the Shenzhen Social Workers Association to recognise its Shenzhen and Hong Kong social work collaboration

2011

  • Loving Bridge Project to enhance multicultural diversity was awarded 2011 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare Scheme organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
  • The Society’s professional supervision and training work in the Mainland was awarded the Certificate of Honor by the Shenzhen Social Workers Association to recognise its Shenzhen and Hong Kong social work collaboration
The “Healthy Divorced Men Project” under the “He-Men, Hear Men” Project received the Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-being 2014 - Bronze Award

2014

  • The “Healthy Divorced Men Project” under the “He-Men, Hear Men” Project received the Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-being 2014 - Bronze Award
  • Our Language Programme for Ethnic Minorities – Chinese Class was awarded HKICT Awards 2014: Best Digital Inclusion (Service) Bronze Award
launch the Pilot Project on Children Contact Service and established Parent-child Contact Centre

2016

The Society was commissioned by Social Welfare Department to launch the Pilot Project on Children Contact Service and established Parent-child Contact Centre

Established Financial Education Centre

2017

Established Financial Education Centre

Financial Education Centre received the “Corporate Financial Education Leadership – Gold Award” in the Financial Education Leadership Awards 2018 organised by the Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK)

2018

  • Financial Education Centre received the “Corporate Financial Education Leadership – Gold Award” in the Financial Education Leadership Awards 2018 organised by the Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK)
  • Awarded “The Community Chest Award for Outstanding Service” by The Community Chest
Financial Education Centre received the 2019 Financial Education Champion Award from the Investor and Financial Education Council and the

2019

  • Financial Education Centre received the 2019 Financial Education Champion Award from the Investor and Financial Education Council and the "Corporate Financial Education Leadership - Gold Award" in the IFPHK Financial Education Leadership Awards 2018 and 2019
  • Parent-child Contact Centre has been incorporated into the Government’s regular assistance programmes in 2019, now the Parent-child Connect Specialised Co-parenting Support Centre
  • The Society was commissioned by the Social Welfare Department to launch the“Pilot Scheme on Social Work Service for Pre-Primary Institutions”
  • Financial Education Centre (FEC) was honoured with the Financial Education Champion Award 2020 in the presentation ceremony held by the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) on 20th November 2019. FEC was also awarded with the Quality Award
HKFWS Released Research Report on a Study on Family Wellbeing Index in Hong Kong

2020

  • Released Research Report on a Study on Family Wellbeing Index in Hong Kong
  • Financial Education Centre received the “Corporate Financial Education Leadership – Gold Award” in the Financial Education Leadership Awards 2020 organised by the Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK)
  • "Bronze Award” and “Outstanding Award” of Corporate and Employee Contribution Programme 2019/20 by the Community Chest
  • Awarded the honour of Manpower Developer (2016-2022) organised by Manpower Developer Award Scheme
The Society received

2021

  • The Society received "Bronze Award”, “3rd Highest Donation Award in Donation Drive” and ”Outstanding Award” of “Corporate and Employee Contribution Programme 2020/21 (CECP)" by The Community Chest
  • Parent-child Connect Pilot Project on Children Contact Service won the Outstanding Award in the Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well Being (Wofoo 3A Project) 2020
The Society received

2022

The Society received "Bronze Award”, “2nd Highest Donation Award in Donation Drive” and ”10th Top Fund-raiser” of “Corporate and Employee Contribution Programme 2021/22 (CECP)" by The Community Chest

Financial Education Centre (FEC) was honored to receive awards from the Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK) for the 5th consecutive year. They include the “Corporate Financial Education Leadership - Gold Award” in the "IFPHK Financial Education Leadership Awards" in the year of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and “Corporate Financial Education Leadership - Gold Award” in “IFPHK Financial Education and ESG Leadership Awards 2022”;"the Investor and Financial Education Award 2022 - Gold Award", "the Investor and Financial Education Award 2021 - Bronze Award", "the Financial Education Champion Award in 2019, 2020" and "the Quality Award in 2020, 2021" are awarded by the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC); and “the Outstanding FinFit Project Award" awarded by the HSBC Hong Kong Community Partnership Programme 2021.

Financial Education Centre (FEC) received the

2023

Financial Education Centre  "e$mart Financial Management Kids Society"  received the "Excellence in Social Impact Innovation (Large Organization)” and "Special Award for NGO” in the HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award 2022/2023 organised by The Hong Kong Management Association

The Society received

The Society received "Bronze Award”, “2nd Highest Donation Award for Donation Drive” and ”9th Top Fund-raiser Award” of “Corporate and Employee Contribution Programme 2022/23 (CECP)" by the Community Chest

The Society awarded the status of

The Society had passed the assessment of the "ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme” again since 2016 and awarded the status of "Manpower Developer” with an authorisation to use its logo and title till 31 March 2025.