The voluntary sector in Malta is a heart-throbbing movement that goes back centuries. It forms part of the Island's chequered history and encompasses a remarkable field of interests, from charity, rescue and disability to sport, culture, and local and national traditions. Dedicated volunteers face ongoing challenges and sometimes even prejudice, but they plod on unperturbed, fully aware their objectives and aspirations deserve all the attention they can get in a busy and frenetic world.

More important, volunteer organisations reflect the best possible values upheld by our communities - solidarity, unity, and dedicated time and energy for the common good. Against this strong, historical background of volunteering, it is every citizen's responsibility to support, in varying ways, the many volunteer organisations that we are fortunate to have functioning within Maltese society.

More so in the case of the State which rightly considers itself as an avid partner to the voluntary sector, encouraging it, assisting it, and providing it with all that is necessary to help voluntary organisations sustain their work, evolve, and reach out to more and more beneficiaries. In metaphorical terms, giving them more wind in their sails to face today's challenges as we seek to promote a more inclusive, active and just society.

The first two specific schemes for the new year have just been announced by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector - the NGO Co-Financing Fund (NCF) and the Training Initiatives Scheme (TIS). Both are precisely intended to supply that extra wind.

The NGO Co-Financing Fund 2025 aims to support the co-financing obligations of voluntary organisations benefitting from EU institutions, EEA grants, Norway grants, bilateral agreements and the Council of Europe. It also aims at complementing and not replacing existing activities and other financial sources by such funded projects. The scheme for this year has been allocated a lump sum of £150,000. No less than £1.35 million have been invested in this scheme over its nine-year existence, covering a total of 168 projects.

The other beneficial scheme - the Training Initiatives Scheme - offers members of voluntary organisations the opportunity to obtain financial support for training in their respective fields. Backed by an investment of €40,000 for this year alone, it comprises two separate programmes - one for individuals who are members of voluntary organisations and the other at an organisational level for the organisations involved. Since its inception in 2018, a total of €340,000 was invested in the training of volunteers.

Eligible for organisations registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations and their active members, the TIS covers local and overseas training, either by physical attendance or online. Such training must be either related specifically to the work of the organisation in which one is active or related to volunteering in general.

Last week's launching of the two schemes was hosted by the St Jeanne Antide Foundation which specialises in cases of vulnerable families and individuals. The foundation is among the various volunteer organisations that have benefitted from MCVS schemes and is currently running a TIS-assisted training programme.

As Mauro Pace Parascandalo, MCVS chief executive, emphasised during the launch of the two schemes, more funds are being made available for the sector to come up with even more projects and initiatives for important training opportunities in this dynamic and ever-evolving sector.

A perfect, but probably unforeseen, example of what training can achieve through such beneficial schemes is that quoted by Melanie Piscopo, executive director of the St Jeanne Antide Foundation, of ten volunteers and employees who are currently receiving training in firefighting.

Firefighting readiness is essential in all spheres of life. Voluntary organisations wisely seek to have, in cases of emergency, their volunteers trained and qualified enough to assure the security of everyone involved, from the volunteers themselves to their service receivers.

Julia Farrugia is the Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector