NEWS ALERT

News and information issued weekly on events, training and funding managed directly by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector for Voluntary Organizations and Volunteers.

For the past years the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector has been keeping enrolled Voluntary Organisations informed through its mass mail system in relation to upcoming schemes and initiatives managed by the same MCVS as well as relevant information, funds and initiatives undertaken by other Public Entities and Voluntary Organisations.

While this system has kept an open line of communication and information with the Sector, sometimes the information issued by MCVS on its own initiatives and schemes is being missed due to the number communications sent.

For this reason, as from today Wednesday the 25^thof May 2022, MCVS shall start issuing a distinctive mail shot to all enrolled VOs in a distinct format, recognizable and freshly designed. This MCVS News Alert shall be issued weekly every Wednesday containing exclusively MCVS information.
We ask you all to disseminate this information within your organisation as well as other Voluntary Organisations.

Let us keep connected!

Youth Volunteer Engage Scheme

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector(MCVS) has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Foundation for Social Welfare Services(FSWS) to collaborate in a new initiative under the Youth Voluntary Scheme – Youth Engage.

This initiative is intended to support young people with difficult backgrounds in engaging with voluntary organisations, helping them to integrate better and offer them both a therapeutic experience as well as the opportunity to learn new skills making them more employable.

The launch event was addressed by the Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Affairs (MIVC), the Hon. Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Policy and Children's Rights(MSPC, and Dr Noel Camilleri, Chairperson MCVS. The MoU was signed by Mr Mauro Pace Parascandalo, CEO MCVS and Mr Alfred Grixti, CEO FSWS, who also addressed the launch event. Present for the launch were also Ms Nancy Caruana, Permanent Secretary MIVC, Mr Mark Musu, Permanent Secretary MSPC and Mr Jesmond Saliba, Commissioner for VOs, and officials from the two entities.

Small Initiatives Support Scheme(SIS)

The Small Initiatives Support Scheme, ‘SIS’, is an initiative managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS). The call for proposals for 2022 is being issued by the MCVS on the 27^th of May 2022 and shall close on the 8^th of July 2022.

The SIS Scheme is designed to assist applicants looking for funding on small projects that can make a real difference to their local communities.
The SIS priorities for 2022 are the following:

Volunteering

This priority is intended to encourage projects aimed at raising awareness of the value and importance of volunteering as a form of active engagement and as a tool to develop or improve competences for personal, social and professional development.

Poverty and Social Inclusion

This priority is intended to encourage projects addressing the issues of poverty and marginalisation and hate speech by focusing on actions such as enhancing awareness and commitment amongst the Maltese society to make it more inclusive. In this context, special emphasis shall be placed on the inclusion of migrants, disabled young people, and other marginalised minorities in fulfilling their potential.

Education

This priority is intended to encourage projects addressing the issues related to education with special focus on the support of marginalised and more challenged groups in the Maltese society.

Arts, Culture and Sports

This priority is intended to encourage projects to address enhancements of awareness in artistic and cultural heritage amongst the Maltese society. The projects should encourage also local initiatives aimed in raising people’s awareness of the sport sector, highlighting its contribution to healthy lifestyle and social development through an inclusive approach to fulfil the potential of the Maltese citizens.

Research

This priority is intended to encourage projects addressing research to compliment other priorities addressed in this call. Research can be carried out regarding all aspects of the organisation such as capacity building, services, training, and volunteering. The sector is constantly seeking to identify innovative approaches through an evidence-based approach which will induce the organisations to become more effective and relevant towards societal needs.

The fund for 2023 will be of €120,000. The period of implementation should commence on the 1st February 2023 and terminate on the 31^st January 2024 and the projects should be implemented over a maximum period of 12 consecutive months.

For further clarifications, you may contact Ms Martina Livori on 2248 1118 or on martina.livori@gov.mt.

Gozo Open Day

Interested VOs are invited to fill in the following form: https://forms.gle/ce5w4FzCAfqzzNkZA. Appointments with each respective Officer will be given by MCVS and applicants shall be contacted accordingly.

Deadline to submit application is Wednesday 1st June office hours.