About Guide Dogs Singapore Ltd (GDS)

Guide Dogs Singapore Ltd (GDS) is a registered charity and a leading social service agency that serves the blind and visually impaired community in Singapore. Founded in 2006, we are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with vision impairment, empowering them to live independently and integrate into society. Our services go beyond guide dogs—we offer a comprehensive range of rehabilitation programmes, including mobility training, assistive technology support, and life skills development, ensuring a holistic approach to empowerment and inclusion. Our programmes and services include:

Guide Dogs Singapore has been responsible for successfully training and pairing 14 guide dog teams in our history, of which 9 are currently active. A steadily increasing number of potential clients have also joined our waiting list.

GDS is an accredited full member of the International Guide Dog Federation.

Related Links

Guide Dogs Singapore Corporate Brochure

Guide Dogs Singapore Referral Form

Tips To Help A Blind Person

Vision

An inclusive society where every blind and vision-impaired person is empowered for independent living.

Mission

We are dedicated to help blind and vision-impaired people to achieve their fullest potential within society.

Goal

To build a world-class organisation providing excellent service quality and lifelong support to the blind and vision-impaired community.

Our Values

  • Empowerment
    To enable the blind and vision-impaired community to realise their potential and aspirations

  • Dedication
    To promote the interests of the blind and visually impaired community through close and dedicated partnerships with our stakeholders

  • Inclusiveness
    To promote inclusiveness amongst the society towards the blind and low vision community

  • Accountability
    To always act with accountability and transparency in the course of our work

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Standards Compliance

As a social service agency that advocates for equal rights and inclusive participation on behalf of the vision impaired community in Singapore, we see our move towards being an ESG-focused organisation a natural progression that aligns with the nature of our work.

Environmental

Staff are strongly encouraged to develop daily habits that reduce their and our carbon footprint and help the environment through these practices:

  • Recycling in the office

  • Going paperless whenever possible by digitalising our operations

  • Green commuting such as carpooling

  • Avoid commuting through virtual meetings and working from home when appropriate

  • Using energy-saving electrical appliances

  • Switching off all lights and aircon when no one is in the office

  • Using personal non-disposal foodware for takeaways

  • Trainers use their own wet bags to store wet umbrellas instead of plastic bags

  • Bringing foldable shopping bags to buy food and store items when needed

  • Through their own initiative, some staff have planted trees in Indonesia and Philippines to reduce carbon footprint through EcoMatcher Tree

Social

GDS ensures the wellbeing of staff and clients by promoting a collegial and inclusive work environment through these policies in place:

  • An annual budget is set aside for staff welfare and professional development

  • Our Human Resource Manual documents procedures on fair, inclusive and equal employment

  • Staff have access to a comprehensive employee handbook to understand their benefits, responsibilities as well as rights, and the appeal process should they have any grievance

  • A whistle-blowing policy is in place to provide an avenue for any employee or stakeholder to raise concerns about actual, suspected or anticipated wrongdoings or improprieties in matters or concerns within GDS

  • Clients are informed of their rights and the appeal process should they have any grievance

  • Establishment of an Advisory Committee that is represented by our clients to ensure a diversity of views that impact our policies and services

Governance

As a social service agency with an Institutions of a Public Character (IPC) status, we comply with a governance checklist which we submit to the Commissioner of Charities every year. It covers these broad categories:

  • Board Governance

  • Conflict of Interest

  • Strategic Planning

  • Human Resource and Volunteer Management

  • Financial Management and Internal Controls

  • Fundraising Practices

  • Disclosure and Transparency

  • Documented Communication Policy

Our major donors also have their own ESG policies:

TechnipFMC
Boehringer Ingelheim

Furthermore, our Board of Directors ensure our investment portfolio aligns with our ESG efforts.

Videos

Related Links

Guide Dogs Singapore Corporate Brochure

Guide Dogs Singapore Referral Form

Tips To Help A Blind Person

Spread the Word to Make a Difference

Testimonials

A group photo of Horsburgh Lodge staff with Vanessa Loh holding company banner, a board that says Say Yes to Guide Dogs and a cheque

Dustin Wilburn
I wanted to nominate a charitable cause to assist those with vision impairments

Ganesan Alagappan

Ganesan Alagappan
Inspires our employees to bring the awareness back home to their family and friends

Amanda Chong, a GDS Client wearing a helmet and holding a raft and wearing a safety life jacket with a stream on the background

Amanda Chong
I cherish the freedom to travel on my own

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A man walking on the street with Guide Dog Wearing Working Harness

Our Services

Vision-impaired man confidently crossing a zebra crossing with his trusted guide dog by his side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide Dogs merchandise plush toy key chain black and brown

“Adopt” A Guide Dog (Plush)

Quick Links

Corporate Partners

We invite you to collaborate with us in supporting the blind and vision impaired community in Singapore through various impactful initiatives. Together, we can foster a more inclusive society for all.

Our Partners

Boehringer Ingelheim logo with a stylised icon of the imperial palace of Charlemagne, featuring two shorter lines on either side, three longer lines in the centre, and an upward-pointing arrow. The icon is enclosed in a circle, with 'Boehringer Ingelheim' in dark green serif font on the right.
TechnipFMC logo with 'TechnipFMC' in purple sans-serif text on the right. On the left is the logo icon featuring a blue inverted triangle with a red triangle pointing to the right at the centre of the blue triangle. Both triangles are translucent.
The Animal Clinic logo featuring a silhouette of a dog at the centre, a smaller cat on its right, a smaller rabbit on its left, and a small parakeet to the left of the rabbit. Above and below the animals is a semi-circle, with 'THE ANIMAL CLINIC' in all caps and green serif font beneath them
Vetz Petz logo with 'Vetz Petz' in a smaller red serif font inside a rounded rectangle, a green plus sign at the top centre. 'Antinol' is in larger red font at the bottom with the dot on the 'i' as a circle with a red stroke and white inside, with a registered trademark ® symbol beside the letter 'l'.
A white guide dog smiling happily at the camera

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