SINGAPORE - Another $250 million has been set aside in a government matching fund to help voluntary welfare organisations in Singapore, bringing the total to $500 million, Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing announced on Sunday.

The Care and Share @ SG50 movement was set up in October 2013 to encourage firms and people to work with the organisations to help the needy. The government had pledged the original $250 million then to match donations raised by the organisations.

More than $300 million was eventually raised by the Community Chest and other organisations, and over 110,000 volunteers roped in through more than 2,000 fundraising and volunteer events.

"It has been a tremendous effort by the community, and we want to build on this momentum," said Mr Chan at the SG Care and Share Day event at the OCBC Square in Kallang.

He added that the additional matching funds would be eligible for donations until March next year.

The Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped was one of the welfare organisations at the event. Its executive director Michael Tan said many people had attempted to read Braille at the event, and learned about issues faced by the visually handicapped in Singapore.

"Many of the welfare organisations including ourselves need donations for equipment and other expenses, so the additional matching funds from the government will go a long way," he said.