Worth their weight in gold – Michael Falzon

The experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated the resilience, at different levels, of human endeavour.

At the Institutional level, we witnessed excellent co-ordination between the health workers and others in the social welfare sector, law enforcement, transport, and food sectors. The agility with which professionals responded while delivering focused interventions made a very difficult situation so much more manageable.

That said, an important sector which gels together the needs of many who either do not have access to mainstream services or whose condition is such that they need others to assist them, is undoubtedly the voluntary sector.

Due to the way that they are structured, their deep knowledge of the needs at the local level and the professionalism that they employ, voluntary organisations are able to reach out to the most at risk of being emarginated, some of whom may go undetected by major Institutions.

Voluntary organizations were instrumental in keeping in touch with their client base and their families whilst also adapting to new protocols in turn aimed to ensure the well-being of their clients. In light of these changes they managed to continue providing their services. Changing systems and protocols is difficult in the best of times, let alone when you need to implement change in the shortest time possible and during a pandemic.

Although most, if not all service provision organisations have a service contract with the government, voluntary organisations still need to raise additional funds for ancillary and administrative back-up expenses. COVID19 struck at the very heart of such critical activity. Organisations could not organise events to raise funds while at the same time operational costs increased in order to account for the new practices of physical distancing, personalised transport and other arrangements. They all come at a cost.

For example, one particular organisation alone missed its major fund raising event in 2020 which raises circa three quarter of a million euros per year. Almost all other organisations had similar experiences. Nevertheless, services in palliative care, for mental health care, for the disability sector, to help tackle addictions, for domestic violence victims, for children’s homes and for caring for the elderly still soldiered on. Their employees continued with their contribution at considerable personal sacrifice. The administrators put their creative caps on in order to make it work, while the directors adjusted plans to keep the service viable. Society is indeed indebted to these organisations and their employees who have not only provided essential services but have also contributed to societal stability at a delicate moment in time.

Voluntary organisations are not only the providers of essential services, but they also demonstrate the pro-active response of civil society. In so doing, the voluntary organisations are strengthening the social fabric of our society as well as directly contributing to enhance our democratic process.

This contribution has long been recognized by Government. The Act that gives voluntary organisations a legal framework to operate in was a determinate step in the right direction, as it created greater accountability and transparency. On the other hand, the Social Standards Authority works hand in hand on a continuous process of service development and improvement. All this apart, however, the most notable recognition of the importance of the voluntary sector is the government investment into the sector.

The budget for public social partnerships in 2020 stands at approximately 17 million euros for the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Solidarity alone. Other ministries also have additional budgets to support their sectorial voluntary organisations while the Department for Voluntary Organisations disburses funds for specific initiatives that helps build the capacity of NGOs.

The formal and organised voluntary sector is not, however, the be all and end all of the sector. The informal part of the voluntary sector is equally important as it encompasses individuals who care for others and commit to help and support those in need. These individuals give back to their community in ways which often go beyond comprehension. They ooze compassion and radiate goodness as second nature. Kindness is what shapes them in various ways. The intangible benefits of such support to our society cannot be calculated in terms of GDP, but nevertheless harnessing the human power for doing good is a domestic product unrivalled by any other human activity.

The voluntary sector is in itself a clear manifestation of solidarity. It includes the best that any society has to offer and is also a reflection of the values that bind us together. In this regard, there can never be a truly cohesive society without the voluntary sector, and the stronger that sector becomes the better off that society is. It is indeed an asset worth nurturing and supporting in various ways.

This government is truly and wholly committed to continue supporting these organisations, financial and otherwise, while new opportunities are explored to improve collaboration and networking between the voluntary organisations and their counterparts in the public sector.

The fact that the annual budget has risen from 3 million to 17 million euros in these last 7 years clearly sends this message very loud and very clear.