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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Malta

Malta

5. Participation

5.6 Supporting youth organisations

Last update: 28 November 2023
On this page
  1. Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations
  2. Public financial support
  3. Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

There is no legal or policy framework specifically designed for youth organisations.

Just like other non-governmental voluntary organisations, youth organisations may apply to become enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. Once enrolled such youth organisations become subject to the observance of applicable provisions and regulations of the Voluntary Organisations Act and enjoy its privileges. These include grants, sponsorships or other financial aid from the Government, any entity controlled by the Government or the Voluntary Organisations Fund; being the beneficiary of any policies supporting voluntary action; benefit from exemptions, privileges or other entitlements in terms of any law; and be a party to contracts and other engagements, whether against remuneration or not, for the carrying out of services for the achievement of its social purpose at the request of the Government or any entity controlled by the Government. As of 2018, with the amendments to the Voluntary Organisations Act, the permissible registration age with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations was lowered from 18 to 16, making it possible for young people at the age of 16 years to form, manage and run youth organisations that qualify for all the benefits and regulations found in the Voluntary Organisations Act

 

Public financial support

 

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has two funding schemes developed specifically for youth organisations

Youth organisations/groups who are registered with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and are enrolled and compliant with the Office of the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations are eligible to apply for support through Assistance4You - A4U scheme. This scheme provides financial support, of a maximum of €3,000 to help youth organisations/groups develop and increase resources, improve premises and facilities and develop and deliver training for their current and prospective leaders.

 

Youth organisations/groups who are registered with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and are enrolled and compliant with the Office of the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations are eligible to apply for support through the Be Active scheme. This fund aims primarily to provide youth organisations/groups with financial support, of a maximum of €4,000 to develop projects/initiatives for their respective service users and the community in general. Organisations/groups are invited to develop a project in connection to a set of priority areas.

Youth organizations, that are either run by young people or that provide services to young people are entitled to register as members of Aġenzija Żgħażagħ. Registered organisations can benefit from the following advantages. Registered organisations may hire equipment against a fully refundable deposit. The deposit will be fully refunded once the equipment is returned in time, fully functional and in the same condition that was handed over to the organization.

 

Youth organisations/groups who are registered with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and are enrolled and compliant with the Office of the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations are eligible to apply for support through the Reboot scheme. This scheme was launched to counter the effects of Covid-19. Through this scheme, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ aims to support youth organisations in order to move forward with confidence and build hope in a post-pandemic perspective. Youth organisations are invited to come up with initiatives that will help them strengthen their structures, their human capacity, and the visibility of the organisation by organising training and team building events; presenting a visibility campaign for the organisation to bring more members in the organisation; organising general or extraordary meetings and other events to restart or revitalise the work of the organisation. An organisation proposes an initiative of up to a maximum of €3,000.

 

Youth organisations/groups who are registered with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and are enrolled and compliant with the Office of the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations are eligible to apply for support through the Invest scheme. The scheme supports the operations of youth organisations to further develop the services that they provide to young people through a three-year annual grant that financially support a portion of the youth organisation’s annual operating expenses, which include costs of professional services to boost the youth service provided by the organisation, and/or expenses related to the administration of the organisation and/or rent, and/or utilities. The number of the youth organisation’s members (aged 13 to 30 years) determines the maximum annual allocation of the operational grant. Organisations, that at application phase prove that they have three hundred (300) members or more, are entitled to up to €60,000 over a three (3) year period, with the maximum annual disbursement not exceeding €20,000. For the other eligible organisations, the budget allocation over 3 years is €36,000. The maximum disbursement per year is €12,000. To access such funding youth organisations and their programmes need to commit to the following priorities: Quality youth service; Quality youth information work (as multipliers of Aġenzija Żgħażagħ); Values of diversity and inclusion; Advocating meaningful youth participation; and Fostering European Citizenship (through participation in Erasmus+ and ESC initiatives).

 

Youth organisations/groups who are registered with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and are enrolled and compliant with the Office of the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations to be eligible to apply for support through the EYY22 - Awarding Quality.  an initiative through which youth organisations can be rewarded through cash prizes for quality work with young people. This is a special call for youth organisations linked with the celebrations of the European Year of Youth 2022. Youth Organisations can be awarded €1,000 or €500 for Youth Empowerment and Participation; Community Involvement and Solidarity; Advocacy and Activism; Sustainability; European Dimension; and Culture and Leisure.

 

Registered organisations are also entitled to a subsidised rate when making use of the facilities available at the Marsaxlokk Youth Activity Centre and Villa Psaigon. Aġenzija Żgħażagħ also supports activities that are organised by registered organisations through free publicity on its Facebook page and website.

 

There are also a number of funding schemes that are not exclusive to youth organisation but are still tapped quite frequently by youth organisations, amongst which are:

 

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector issues the Small Initiatives Scheme that supports small initiatives by Voluntary Organisations. Funding is awarded to initiatives particularly related to encouraging projects in areas such as training courses for volunteers or the public, events such as exhibitions, festivals, websites, publications and other initiatives related to the voluntary sector.

 

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector issues the Civil society fund and provides financial assistance for the purpose of facilitating affiliation with and participation in European groupings, associations, federations, confederation networks, and training related to EU Policy/Programmes. The objectives of the Civil Society Fund (CSF) are to assist CSOs in keeping abreast with the developments occurring at an EU level; to enable CSOs to better educate their members on EU matters related to their respective fields of competence; and to enable CSOs to participate effectively in the decision-making process at a European level. Interested youth organisations may apply so as to first, receive assistance with the affiliation of their organisation to European umbrella organisations, grouping, federations, confederations or networks. Secondly, to facilitate their attendance at conferences, seminars and meetings abroad in relation to affiliations in European umbrella organisations, groupings, federations, confederations or networks and participation in Training Abroad related to EU Policy or Programmes.

 

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector issues the Training Initiatives Scheme (TIS). The main objectives of this scheme are to offer support for individual volunteers who form part of a Voluntary Organisation in one’s training which will be beneficial both to oneself, one’s Voluntary Organisation, to other Voluntary Organisations and to the community at large. The scheme also supports Voluntary Organisations in the organisation of training initiatives that are beneficial both to the same organisation, to other Voluntary Organisations and to the community at large.

 

The Achievers Scheme issued by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification of Administrative Processes has been developed with the aim of engaging young people to design and implement community-based interventions and initiatives to prevent or delay the onset of substance misuse.

 

Arts Council Malta issues the Creative Communities programme that enables voluntary organisations to carry out projects related to culture and the arts in local communities. The funding can include informal training and development programmes; research or events, productions and/or exhibitions.

 

The President’s Award for Creativity is a fund support to organisations, especially those working with vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, to engage these groups in creativity and arts-driven projects and thereby increase their level of integration and engagement in society.

 

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion issues the Official Development Assistance Fund for voluntary organisations offering humanitarian and development assistance to developing countries with the aim of supporting economic and social progress based on the notion of ‘eradicating poverty through development’, in the light of the 2030 Agenda.

 

The Ministry for Gozo issues the Gozo NGO Scheme designed to provide support and facilitate the realisation of small projects, activities and initiatives on the Island of Gozo by Voluntary Organisations. The objectives of this scheme are to enhance the social, cultural, economic and ecological fabric of the Gozitan society; promote and encourage a culture of volunteering and the participation in volunteer activities amongst the Gozitan society; stimulate co-operation and networking between Voluntary Organisations; foster co-operation between Voluntary Organisations and the Ministry for Gozo through collaborative initiatives.

 

The Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Climate Change issues the Sustainable Development Fund Support Scheme for Voluntary Organisations is aimed to support non-Government, non-profit voluntary organisations to undertake tangible sustainable development projects and initiatives that have the potential to cover activities and initiatives in line with the Sustainable Development Goals

 

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

There are no large-scale initiatives aiming to increase the diversity of young people participating in youth organisations.