During a visit to Gozo, the Government launched an €800,000 scheme aimed at voluntary organisations in order to carry out projects in the community.

The Voluntary Organisations Projects Scheme (VOPS) was relaunched by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS).

Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia Portelli, with CEO of MCVS Mauro Pace Parascandolo, announced the scheme during a visit to the La Stella Philharmonic Society at the Astra Theatre in Victoria, Gozo.

Through VOPS, this association invested €40,000 in two infrastructural projects, which included both the renovation of the hall where musical rehearsals and teaching take place and also the improvement of facilities to improve the accessibility of the venue.?

The Minister explained that projects eligible for VOPS can be from all areas of the voluntary sector, such as the sustainable environment, art, music, sport, education, culture, civil rights and the field of youth. Apart from that, for the second consecutive year, part of the funds will be dedicated to strengthening inclusion related to health and disability to help us have a more inclusive community.

For this year, €800,000 has been allocated, which will be shared between the voluntary organisations that successfully apply for the different initiatives, including community projects, infrastructure initiatives, or research . Under this scheme during the last eight years approximately €7.3 million have been allocated, the Minister said.

The Minister together with the management of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector also visited several voluntary organisations on the island of Gozo. In Kercem, they met with the Ghaqda Festa Ghajn Tuta, which thanks to funding from VOPS with an investment of €20,000, now has a complete stage with ramps accessible to disabled people to be used in different cultural activities to be organised in the community. While in Kercem, they also met with the Ghaqda tal-Armar Madonna tas-Sokkors, which also with support from VOPS carried out an infrastructural project of around €20,000, where they restored and carried out a number of works on the facade of the Parish Centre that the association manages.

Applications for the scheme will be received from Wednesday, the 4th of September, until noon on Wednesday, the 16th of October, by clicking here.

An information meeting will also be held to guide the associations during the application process.

The Ministry said that voluntary organisations that apply must be registered and compliant with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.

Photo: DOI

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