A series of peer exchanges about practitioner-led third spaces, with the practitioners who lead and sustain them.
Practitioners doing sustained impact work rarely have space to reflect on it –– let alone find others navigating the same questions.
CNFC Circles is that space. Four peer-exchange sessions in Aug, Sep, Nov and Dec 2026, each going inside a different practitioner-led third space in Singapore to explore how it started, how it's sustained, and what it really takes to nurture civic life.
Come for one, or come for all!
What happens at the Circles?
Each Circle is co-designed and co-led with a practitioner from a different third space in Singapore, so that the spaces themselves become part of the conversation. The modality differs, but the conversation thread stays consistent.
First, we take you inside the chosen third space — how it started, how it's sustained, and what it looks like from three angles: the practitioner leading it, the community it serves, and the funders backing it.
Then, we open the conversation to explore the specific dynamic that gives each Circle its title. These are tensions common across the civic space and conversations that don't happen nearly enough.
Expect honest conversation, structured reflection, and a time to connect that's hard to find elsewhere.
Learn: Discover new perspectives on your own practice
Connect: Build relationships across the practitioner ecosystem
Reflect: Make sense of what you're experiencing in your own work
Who are the Circles for?
If you work in or alongside spaces that bring communities together, whether that's a socially-oriented organisation, a community programme, or a practitioner-led third space — CNFC Circles is for you.
We designed it with impact practitioners in mind, but the conversation is open to anyone with a stake in how Singapore's civic ecosystem grows — including the funders and institutions that resource it.
Come curious, come to connect, come to think out loud.
Programme OverviewWhat will we be exploring?
CNFC Circles runs across four sessions — in August, September, November and December 2026. Each one explores a different model of a third space and a different tension that every practitioner-led third space eventually has to navigate. Together, they build a richer picture of what it really takes to lead and sustain one.
CNFC CIRCLES #1
Third Spaces Need Me & We w/ Joo Chiat Social Club
SESSION DETAILS
Date: 28 Aug 2026, Fri
Time: 2:30PM – 5PM
Price: $35 (incl. GST)
Location: Joo Chiat Social Club, 254 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427508
ABOUT THE SESSION
JOO CHIAT SOCIAL CLUB (JCSC) started with a simple mission: to build a place where old and young — and everyone in between — could learn, play and grow together. From their heritage shophouse, they run an assisted living facility for seniors who want support without giving up their independence, alongside a social club that nurtures an intergenerational community through regular programmes.
Behind it all are two co-founders — partners in life and in work — who've kept this going by taking turns: one going "me first" so the other can go "we first." What started as a practice between two people has grown into something the whole organisation runs on.
In this Circle, JCSC shares how that practice has let them sustain both their care work and their social impact over time — and what it might mean for yours.
TICKETING INFO
Early bird pricingFrom 30 Jul – 10 Aug, this Circle is $22 (incl. GST), instead of the usual $35 (incl. GST). A small thank you for registering early.
A note on pricingWe've priced each Circle at $35 (incl. GST). This helps to cover the costs to keep the session running smoothly — the materials, refreshments, and a small token of appreciation for the practitioners who open up their spaces and their work for this conversation.We think that's worth it, and we hope you do too. But we also believe in accessibility. If the price is a barrier, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg to explore other options.
Group purchases and organisation invoicesFor group purchases (>3 pax) or if you need an invoice to claim this from your organisation, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg.
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THIRD SPACES NEED ME & WE W/ JOO CHIAT SOCIAL CLUB
Date: 28 Aug 2026, Fri
Time: 2:30PM – 5PM
Price: $35 (incl. GST)
Location: Joo Chiat Social Club, 254 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427508
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JOO CHIAT SOCIAL CLUB (JCSC) started with a simple mission: to build a place where old and young — and everyone in between — could learn, play and grow together. From their heritage shophouse, they run an assisted living facility for seniors who want support without giving up their independence, alongside a social club that nurtures an intergenerational community through regular programmes.
Behind it all are two co-founders — partners in life and in work — who've kept this going by taking turns: one going "me first" so the other can go "we first." What started as a practice between two people has grown into something the whole organisation runs on.
In this Circle, JCSC shares how that practice has let them sustain both their care work and their social impact over time — and what it might mean for yours.
In this session, we will:
Explore JCSC as a model of a third space, hearing how the co-founders have started and sustained their work — as practitioners, with their funders, and with their community.
Unpack "me first, we first" as a polarity to navigate.
Reflect on how the principles and practices that emerge may apply to our own work.
Meet and connect with other practitioners through small and large group conversations.
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JOO CHIAT SOCIAL CLUB is an intergenerational community space where the old and young — and everyone in between — can gather, connect, and genuinely enjoy each other's company. Their vision is simple: a vibrant community where people experience meaningful connection and the joy of being together. To get there, they craft gatherings and spaces that foster connections across generations and social groups — and create platforms for people to share their gifts with the community.
Find out more: Website | Instagram | Facebook
About the Co-Founders
BENNETT is an engineer who loves working with his hands. He graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Engineering Product Development) from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and worked as a Mechanical Engineer in Hope Technik before setting up his own company, MUT Engineering. He now runs Camino House and Joo Chiat Social Club with his wife, Mariel. He believes his calling is to make useful things. On the side, he enjoys kitesurfing.
MARIEL envisions, designs, and co-creates experiences with the community. She founded the social enterprise muein in 2022 to pilot unorthodox solutions to pertinent social problems in Singapore, with a focus on the ageing and special needs communities.
Together with her husband, she initiated and runs an assisted living facility, Camino House, as well as Joo Chiat Social Club, an intergenerational community space that brings together the old and young. Together with her friends, she initiated and leads Forest Fables, an inclusive storymaking adventure for children of varying abilities set in Singapore’s natural spaces.
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Come for this session if you:
Lead, work in, or are thinking about starting a practitioner-led third space.
Are curious about different third space models in Singapore, and what it takes to start and sustain these spaces.
Want to hear from and connect with other practitioners in the space.
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Early bird pricing
From 30 Jul – 10 Aug, this Circle is $22 (incl. GST), instead of the usual $35 (incl. GST). A small thank you for registering early.
A note on pricing
We've priced each Circle at $35 (incl. GST). This helps to cover the costs to keep the session running smoothly — the materials, refreshments, and a small token of appreciation for the practitioners who open up their spaces and their work for this conversation.
We think that's worth it, and we hope you do too. But we also believe in accessibility. If the price is a barrier, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg to explore other options.
Group purchases and organisation invoices
For group purchases (>3 pax) or if you need an invoice to claim this from your organisation, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg.
This session will be led by:
MARIEL CHEE & BENNETT LEE
JOO CHIAT SOCIAL CLUBSHIAO-YIN KUIK
COMMON GROUNDCNFC CIRCLES #2
Third Spaces Need
Money & Mission
Sustaining social impact work is as much an economic challenge as it is a values one. How do you build something that stays financially viable without losing sight of why you started? This Circle explores what it looks like to hold both, and what practitioners have learnt from trying.
We're still getting this Circle ready. But if the title already resonates, that's a pretty good sign it's for you! Let us know if you're keen, and we'll follow up once things are confirmed.
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A note on pricing
We've priced each Circle at $35 (incl. GST). This helps to cover the costs to keep the session running smoothly — the materials, refreshments, and a small token of appreciation for the practitioners who open up their spaces and their work for this conversation.
We think that's worth it, and we hope you do too. But we also believe in accessibility. If the price is a barrier, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg to explore other options.
Group purchases and organisation invoices
For group purchases (>3 pax) or if you need an invoice to claim this from your organisation, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg.
CNFC CIRCLES #3
Third Spaces Need
Hubs & Spokes
No third space operates in isolation. There are always relationships to navigate — with funders, with partners, with the broader ecosystem. This Circle explores what it looks like when those relationships work well, and what it takes to build them intentionally.
We're still getting this Circle ready. But if the title already resonates, that's a pretty good sign it's for you! Let us know if you're keen, and we'll follow up once things are confirmed.
-
A note on pricing
We've priced each Circle at $35 (incl. GST). This helps to cover the costs to keep the session running smoothly — the materials, refreshments, and a small token of appreciation for the practitioners who open up their spaces and their work for this conversation.
We think that's worth it, and we hope you do too. But we also believe in accessibility. If the price is a barrier, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg to explore other options.
Group purchases and organisation invoices
For group purchases (>3 pax) or if you need an invoice to claim this from your organisation, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg.
CNFC CIRCLES #4
Third Spaces Need
Endings & Beginnings
In a space-scarce country like Singapore, physical third spaces are never guaranteed to last. But an ending doesn't mean a failure – and a closure doesn't have to be careless. This Circle sits with what it looks like to end well: to take care of the exit, honour what was built, and make space for what comes next.
We're still getting this Circle ready. But if the title already resonates, that's a pretty good sign it's for you! Let us know if you're keen, and we'll follow up once things are confirmed.
-
A note on pricing
We've priced each Circle at $35 (incl. GST). This helps to cover the costs to keep the session running smoothly — the materials, refreshments, and a small token of appreciation for the practitioners who open up their spaces and their work for this conversation.
We think that's worth it, and we hope you do too. But we also believe in accessibility. If the price is a barrier, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg to explore other options.
Group purchases and organisation invoices
For group purchases (>3 pax) or if you need an invoice to claim this from your organisation, email us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg.
expression of interestLet us know if you’re keen!
We're still getting the Circles ready. But if the title already resonates, that's a pretty good sign it's for you!
Leave your details and we'll follow up once things are firmed up.
What do we need third spaces for?
Come explore it with us at Common Ground Civic Centre.