Some years following the setting up of the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, where more visibility and engagement with the Sector was taking place, the awareness of the needs of the same Sector were highlighted. A number of requests kept coming from small VOs for the need of space where they could meet up, both as a committee as well as with their members. On the other hand, it was obvious that there would never be a supply of premises to accommodate such a need of an ever-growing number of VOs.
It was then, in 2014, that the idea of providing space for a specific time, was created for Maltese VOs. The concept was that enrolled VOs could book a space, a meeting room or a training hall, according to their needs. Such service, also for the first time in the Maltese islands, was provided 24/7, thus accommodating the need and reality of voluntary organisations.
The first such Volunteer Centre was inaugurated in Valletta on the 5th of December 2014. It was obvious that this would not suffice to cater for the ever-growing number of VOs. Apart from this, MCVS, together with Government, felt that such service should be offered in various areas of the Maltese Islands to provide better community reach. On the 18th May 2017 the second Volunteer Centre was inaugurated in Rabat, Malta, thus addressing the north region of the Island. This was followed by the Birkirkara Volunteer Centre inaugurated on the 16th June 2023. The latest addition was the renovation of the already existing Xewkija Volunteer Centre on the 25th of March 2024. This Centre was not only renovated but given additional space as well as extending its service to the 24/7 model of the other Centres. This is not the end of the road, as work is underway on the fifth Volunteer Centre which shall open early in 2025 in Paola.
As MCVS, with the support of the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, we intend to keep on working on the provision of services to support the Volunteer Sector in the various ways possible and addressing the needs of the same Sector which arise from time to time.
