Fairer Opportunities

We are committed to building a more inclusive society by supporting marginalised and underserved segments, ensuring they have fair access to opportunities and social networks, regain well-being and live with dignity. We also foster vibrant and healthier social service ecosystem by empowering small and emerging non-profits to deliver community-driven solutions to respond to diverse community needs.

Everyone deserves a level playing field

Hong Kong’s wide wealth gap presents a myriad of significant and growing challenges for the city, with inadequate housing being one of the most tangible problems. Around 110,000 subdivided units dotted around the city houses over 200,000 people, including around 34,000 children. Many underprivileged families continue to endure poor living environments, underscoring the need for more inclusive development.

At the same time, there are many other disadvantaged groups—from ethnic minorities, children in care homes, and even small NGOs—who need help and an opportunity to thrive.

Recognising this, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to supporting struggling families and contributing to a level playing field in the society that leave nobody behind.

Providing timely relief during difficult times

Over the past decades, we have provided timely crisis intervention to support underprivileged families in Hong Kong through a range of initiatives during difficult times. Building on the experience of emergency support to the victims of the collapsed residential building at Ma Tau Wai Road, we established Jockey Club Emergency Relief Fund in 2010, which offers immediate financial assistance to individuals facing unforeseen hardships—such as accidents, natural disasters, or the sudden loss of a family breadwinner.

All our philanthropic work is driven by commitment to timeliness and innovation, always centred on the people we serve. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched Hong Kong’s first electronic food bank—E-Food Bank. This automated dispenser provided 24/7 access to meals tailored to the community’s dietary preferences. Impoverished families often struggle to access nutritious food. We identify those at risk and offer targeted nutritional support and services to improve their health and well-being.

Breaking the poverty cycle through targeted interventions

In addition to providing timely and sufficient relief to those in crisis and addressing gaps in the social safety net, we have been stepping up efforts to broaden outreach and uplift disadvantaged communities, minorities, and those living on the margins of society out of poverty through education, employment, and community support, with a view to fostering lasting economic independence and resilience. This marks a major step-up from past emergency relief efforts that were more reactive in nature.

The Jockey Club Community Kitchen series, launched in 2016, was one of our key initiatives to achieve these goals. The series supported families living in subdivided units through extending their living spaces and catering to the communities’ needs from amenities, community pharmacy, wellness space and dedicated playing and learning areas for children. These community hubs have empowered thousands of families by increasing their social capital and support network, enhancing their health and quality of life, and fostering a spirit of community and mutual aid.

Since then, we have further targeted this issue with another key project—JC PROJECT LIFT, a five-year initiative supporting underprivileged families across 24 transitional and two light public housing projects. Based on the Graduation Approach, we are pioneering a localised Urban Graduation model tailored to the realities of urban poverty, with an expected reach of 14,000 households. With elements such as employment support, preferential saving plans and Family Capacity Building Fund, the programme addresses poverty’s social, economic and psychological dimensions through targeted interventions and multi-stakeholder collaboration—helping families move toward self-sufficiency.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin remarks, “Transitional housing stays where it is, but the knowledge acquired will remain with the residents wherever they go.” She believes the “software” provided by the Club and the “hardware” provided by the government are complementary.

Transitional housing stays where it is, but the knowledge acquired will remain with the residents wherever they go.

Winnie Ho Wing-yin, Secretary for Housing

Supporting marginalised children and youth

Apart from low-income families, many other disadvantaged groups in the city also need tailored support—and we are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind.

Children and young people in residential care are among the most marginalised. Our JC Project Bonfire supports 1,300 children and youth living in Small Group Homes until they return to their families, are adopted, or transition to independence.

This first-of-its-kind initiative in Hong Kong’s residential childcare sector provides financial support through JC Positive Trajectory Fund and Framework, enabling participants to co-create and actualise Individualised Development Plans with guidance from dedicated Trajectory Development Managers, a new role created to convene collaboration across helping adults to act in the best interests of the residential children and youth. With the support of 150 Community Partners engaged in the Social Capital Platform, we offer long-term, structured assistance to build self-esteem, social skills, and a sense of purpose.

“What children need most is companionship and care,” says Ho Chun-kit, a Trajectory Development Manager for JC Project Bonfire. “We engage them in discussions based on five critical developmental domains—health, trusted relationships, social capital, sense of purpose, and future navigation competencies—so that we can set goals together.”

Children and young people who have lost their parent experience significant adversity on their life path. Studies indicate that they are more prone to a range of mental health challenges and are at a greater risk of engaging in drinking and substance abuse. Collaborating with a professional team, our JC Echoes of Love Fund offers immediate bereavement support to assist them in navigating this challenging journey and provide personalised development plans to encourage a positive future.

Promoting an equitable and inclusive community

Ethnic minorities—particularly South Asians, whose population has grown from 66,000 to 102,000 in the past decade—are another underserved group facing language barriers that limit access to education and employment.

With over 620,000 ethnic minority residents making up 8% of Hong Kong’s population, inclusive language support is urgently needed. Fluency in Chinese is key to higher education, yet many non-Chinese speaking families struggle to learn the language. C-for-Chinese@JC, co-created with three universities and two NGOs, provides early childhood education resources starting from kindergarten, the critical period for language learning.

By harnessing culturally responsive curriculum design, the programme creates a sense of belonging among ethnic minority students and their families, helping build a strong environment and motivation for effective language learning. We further support educators and social workers with training in cultural responsiveness, helping to build a more inclusive learning environment for all. More than 42,000 children and their parents have benefitted from the learning materials like nursery rhymes and storybooks.

Through an early childhood education diploma funded by the programme, Farooq Shamila, a Multicultural Teaching Assistant, found her career path. She will be able to help close the learning gap for children from ethnic minorities and pursue a career as a kindergarten teacher with this new role.

Building an equitable ecosystem

Our commitment to leaving no one behind extends to the sector at large, including supporting smaller NGOs to bring innovation and thrive. Jockey Club Broadening Outreach Scheme, a four-year initiative launched in 2024, aims to build a more vibrant and diverse ecosystem for greater social impact. This dedicated capacity-building and funding programmes support 150 and 70 local small non-profits, respectively, in strengthening their human, social, governance and financial capital for sustainable growth.

Focusing on fairer opportunities

Looking ahead, we wish to focus on fairer opportunities for all—those affected by poverty, but also those marginalised for other reasons, to use our leverage to create a more equal and inclusive society in Hong Kong.