A volunteer bank has been launched to connect professionals and companies with voluntary organisations in need of professional support, a government statement said.
This initiative, called ProACT - PROviders and Communities Together, will offer professionals, companies, students, and individuals with various skills the opportunity to donate a number of service hours.
This new initiative was launched by the Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Julia Farrugia, along with the CEO of the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) Mauro Pace Parascandalo.
ProACT will be integrated into the volunteers.mt portal of the MCVS and will include all types of professionals and companies interested in making a significant contribution to society as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The statement said that whether these professionals are lawyers, notaries, architects, or teachers - or in areas like marketing, accounting, web development, manual work at organisation premises, or any other professional services offered by companies, they will be able and encouraged to apply.
At the same time, the MCVS will operate a parallel system to gather information about the professional support and needs of voluntary organisations, it said.
This will allow the Council to match the pledged hours from professionals with the requests of organisations, fostering collaboration and strengthening the voluntary sector.
The launch of this scheme took place on the first day of the Public Service Expo Village 2025, where throughout the week, professionals, companies, organisations, and the general public attending the Expo can receive more information about this initiative.
Farrugia said that the ProACT volunteer bank is not just a volunteering initiative, but also a platform for social transformation, placing the values of justice and solidarity at the heart of national development.
“This scheme creates a space where the skills and resources of professionals, students, and companies meet the real needs of voluntary organisations, which are often at the forefront of the fight for social justice and inclusion. ProACT reflects our commitment to Malta’s Vision 2050,” she said.
Farrugia said that this is how government is creating a fairer, more united society, and one that is stronger for future generations.
Pace Parascandalo said that the realities of many voluntary organisations, especially the smaller ones, show that they often cannot afford professional services.
“That is why we decided to create a structure through which professionals and companies can have peace of mind that the hours they donate will go to the organisations most in need. At the same time, the organisations will find various types of support in one centralised system,” he said.
Voluntary organisations that apply must be registered and compliant with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.