The People's Association (PA) wants more new immigrants to lead and volunteer at grassroots level.

Its chief executive director Ang Hak Seng said on Saturday that the association hopes to recruit 1,000 of them, to fill 300 spots as grassroots leaders and 700 volunteer positions by the end of next year.

Mr Ang was speaking at this year's third Integration Carnival, an annual event to promote interaction between Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and new citizens.

Held at Siloso Beach, Sentosa, this year's carnival is the first time five immigration associations and two local clan associations are participating.

They include the Kowloon Club, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association and the Tianjin Association of Singapore.

Members of such associations and partner organisations also ran interactive stalls featuring traditional costumes, crafts and games.

About 4,000 people turned up at the event, including Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu, who was guest-of-honour.

The PA also launched two projects at the carnival, one of which was the Tap with One Heart initiative, where people can make donations to by tapping their PAssion EZLink cards.

More than 1,000 people contributed to the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, which serves the needy elderly and low-income patients from all races and religions.

Ms Fu kickstarted the second project, called Paint with One Heart, where she joined residents at painting batik flowers on a 150m long cloth.

The aim is to create a 360m long batik banner with flower motifs by residents, including new immigrants in the next nine months.

About 500 people participated in the painting today.

The completed banner will be showcased at the opening of next year's (2014) Chingay Parade.