Rock-climbing wall and obstacle course at new Dads Adventure Hub in Bukit Panjang

Muhammad Samir Hamzah, 13, walking on the tight rope at the Centre for Fathering.

ST PHOTO: YEO KAI WEN
Minister for Manpower and the Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin (second from left), watches on during the event launch.
ST PHOTO: YEO KAI WEN

SINGAPORE - The Centre for Fathering (CFF) launched a Dads Adventure Hub at The Tennery in Bukit Panjang on Wednesday.

The all-weather space is available year-round for adventure camps and other activities such as fathering workshops and counselling.

The 4,450 square foot space, featuring a two-storey high rock-climbing wall and a high elements obstacle course, was donated to the CFF by the Far East Organisation.

The Hub is open to participants of CFF-organised programmes but others can use it for a fee.

It previously rented space for its programmes from organisations such as Outward Bound Singapore but faced availability problems, especially at weekends and public holidays.

The CFF is a non-profit organisation which aims to encourage fathers to inspire and be better role models to their children.

CFF chairman Mr Richard Hoon said the organisation is keen to set up partnerships with other property developers for space for its programmes.

"This is the catalyst" said Mr Hoon , adding that it is looking to open similar centres in Singapore, in addition to its current premises in Bukit Panjang and Toa Payoh.

The event also marked the handing over of the Dads for Life movement from the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) to the CFF.

It will set up a division focused on outreach and community engagement and convert its existing Toa Payoh office into a Dads Outreach Centre.

The CFF also unveiled a new logo to mark these changes.

Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, who attended yesterday's event, said: "Efforts like this, we should celebrate them, and encourage more parents, especially fathers, to be there and spend more time with their children."

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