More facilities at HomeTeamNS clubhouse after facelift

SINGAPORE — Following a S$4 million facelift, the HomeTeamNS Sembawang Clubhouse has opened its doors again, offering a wide range of facilities such as refurbished guest rooms and a revamped gym.

The clubhouse is also host to two new food and beverage outlets: Makan Bagus, a seafood restaurant; and 301 Bar & Kitchen, a Western-style bistro by actor Pierre Png.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, said today (Sept 21) the F&B outlets, and membership fees and team-building programmes would help to diversify the clubhouse’s earnings away from slot machines, which were its most important source of income previously.

“But, we foresaw very early on ... that (with) the coming of the IRs (integrated resorts) as well as the changing demographics of our members, the slot machines would not be something we can rely on. Now, we have diversified it,” said Mr Masagos, who is also president of HomeTeamNS, at the club’s opening ceremony today (Sept 21).

The Sembawang facility, one of four HomeTeamNS clubhouses around the island, aims to be the “go-to place” for family-friendly activities. HomeTeamNS — a non-profit association for Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) NSmen — decided to pursue more child-friendly initiatives at its clubhouses after gathering feedback from its members.

Mr Masagos said it had conducted a survey and focus group discussions with smaller groups to explore what members “want to see in the club they call their own”. About S$$1.1 million has been invested to launch two new “family play concepts”. A children’s playground, which uses augmented-reality technology and has transport as its theme, is set to be operational at the HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok Clubhouse in November. The other concept, Clip ‘N Climb, is a climbing adventure centre to be built in the new HomeTeamNS Town Hub in Tampines next year.

The Sembawang Clubhouse will host an open house this weekend for members and the general public. The first 100 people to flash their membership cards at the reception will receive a goodie bag worth more than S$150.