OUR VISION
To be the leading youth work agency by fostering strong partnerships and providing innovative, evidence‑based initiatives that empower our beneficiaries and strengthen communities.
OUR MISSION
To strengthen the youth work ecosystem by advancing youth work practices through evidence-based strategies & resources that benefit youth and the practitioners who serve them.
We believe advancing youth work practice refers to improving the efficiency & efficacy of service delivery through the use of advanced competencies and technologies to enhance the outcomes and experiences of our beneficiaries. It involves generating and translating knowledge beyond traditional approaches to foster more innovative and evidence-based practices.
For our MISSION, we use the following definitions:
Knowledge Generation & Translation
At CYPHER, we believe that impactful youth work is built on continuous learning and practical application. Knowledge generation refers to the discovery or development of new knowledge through systematic inquiry, research, reflection, or practice. It involves producing fresh insights, evidence, approaches, or understanding that did not previously exist. Knowledge translation is the process of applying, sharing, and adapting this new knowledge to improve programmes, inform policies, and raise professional competencies.
Evidence-Based Practice
The “integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences” (APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice, 2006).
APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice. (2006). Evidence-based practice in psychology. American Psychologist, 61(4), 271–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.4.271
OUR C.O.R.E VALUES:
C
Critical Thinking
O
Openness
R
Resilience
E
Empathy
OUR PEOPLE
OUR STRUCTURE
We follow a clinically focused organisational structure. Loosely based on Mintzberg’s professional organisation configuration (1993), our structure emphasises the core operations of our organisation (i.e., clinical work) at the centre. Supportive functions, while crucial, are by the side so that there is no confusion as to the core mission of our organisation. This type of structure can serve to streamline processes and aid clinical work (reflected in our services). It can also serve to provide assurance to our donors and stakeholders by highlighting our commitment to ensuring that funds graciously provided to us go in large part to executing our mission and impacting our beneficiaries.
Mintzberg, H. (1993). Structure in fives: Designing effective organizations. Prentice Hall Inc.
OUR STORY
Originally conceptualised as Bilby Community Development Ltd. by a handful of practitioners in 2019, our organisation undertook a review of its processes & position within the social service landscape to better meet the needs of beneficiaries, stakeholders, and the community at large.
With effect from 3 July 2025, Bilby Community Development Ltd. transitioned to CYPHER in order to better represent our work, mission and vision. The nature of our charitable objectives remains unchanged and there was no disruption of service during the transition. The organisation continues to be a registered charity and a member of the National Council of Social Service.
OUR WORK
At CYPHER, we believe that ground-up, practitioner-led initiatives hold the key to addressing complex therapeutic issues and improving practice standards. This is because such initiatives:
- Help bridge the gap between academia (i.e., theoretical elements) and practice leading to more effective interventions that can benefit clients, practitioners, stakeholders, and the larger community.
- Provide a more contextual and in-depth understanding of the issues, needs, and potential solutions within the local practice sphere leading to greater benefit for clients, practitioners, stakeholders, and the larger community.
Furthermore, we believe that the insights gained from practitioner research contribute to developing and refining intervention strategies that are specifically contextualised to the needs of the local community. Accordingly, a core component of our mission is to pursue, facilitate, and encourage practitioner research.
Our work is also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
OUR APPROACH
Based on the landmark work of Raven Counselling & Consultancy (Nair & Wu, 2022), we utilise the BPSw Model as a framework for our clinical initiatives concerning youth. The model is the first & only peer-reviewed and evidence-based framework to support youth interventions in Singapore. Developed over 15 years, the BPSw Model (incorporating biological, psychological, and social work elements) has been used in a multitude of settings including social service agencies and schools.
The BPSw Model
Since 2017, the BPSw Model has been implemented as a professional development programme at Singapore’s Social Service Institute, supporting the capacity-building of youth workers, social workers, counsellors, psychologists, academics, allied educators, and law enforcement officers. The following data highlights the effectiveness of the BPSw Model in enhancing the competencies of professionals working with youth in Singapore.
Quotes unedited for transparency and authenticity
Nair, P., & Wu, S. (2022). A Practitioner's Guide To Youth Work In Singapore. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13766739OUR REPORTS
