Fundraising Campaigns
We have been in operation since 1976. Every day we care for the physical and spiritual well-being of the most vulnerable in our community.
We run five main services that directly provide for the wellbeing of others. They are interrelated yet tasked with different responsibilities:
Outreach
Outreach brings our care directly to those in the community in need of assistance, providing them with practical necessities of life such as food, clothing and educational materials, as well as helping them access employment services. We also provide educational activities and fun events, aimed to lighten the load of modern life. Outreach is also responsible for raising awareness about social issues as a preventative measure, both nationally and at the EU level.
Prevention
Prevention offers psychotherapeutic, counselling and educational services to vulnerable people in the community, including youth experiencing mental health issues and couples and families, where an escalation of conflict could result in homeless/rooflessness. Our prevention work aims to involve people and foster a sense of belonging to a broader community. Sometimes just the feeling of being supported is all that an individual may need to keep their head above water.
Residential
Residential offers emergency shelter and rehabilitation trajectories for those experiencing homeless/rooflessness, without prejudice: young and older individuals as well as families with minors may stay with us. We currently host three residences offering a total of 52 beds, with another specialty facility for an additional 10 people aged 60+ in the works.
Community
Community provides professional counselling and basic living services to those experiencing homelessness, as well as those who may just be in need of extra spiritual or material support. Our drop-in centre offers self-service laundry, bathing and cooking facilities, as well as access to lockers, internet and clothing/linen donations. We also offer generic social and youth work services, besides regular activities and workshops for general wellbeing.
Aftercare
Aftercare provides ongoing support to those who are transitioning back into the broader community after experiencing hardship. These services utilise our network of healthcare, employment and learning professionals, giving individuals and families getting back on their feet the best possible chance of sustainable reintegration into independent living. We want all our clients to profit from their hard work, long after they have accessed our services.
In addition to our work directly in service to those in need, YMCA Malta is a research-based organisation that forms its programmes on the basis of its own scientific study. Given the length of time we have been around, and due to our meticulous statistical data, we are able to offer insight into homeless/roofless trends on our islands. We periodically publish these findings, laying the groundwork for our future endeavours, as well as that of fellow NGOs and government officials.
Trends & Findings
- Every month from Jan–June 2024, we received an average of 43 new cases of homeless and roofless individuals requiring emergency shelter. 166 of these were Maltese, 22 were EU nationals, and 71 were non-EU nationals.
- In the first month of 2024 alone, we received 6 new homeless/roofless referrals.
- In 2023, 48% of those requiring shelter were Maltese; an 11% increase over 2022.
- In 2023 the average age of minors living in our shelters was 5.
- In 2023 we received 36 cases of homeless/roofless individuals aged 60+.
- Rent prices, low salaries resulting in financial hardship, relationship issues, and domestic violence remain the top reasons why Maltese people experience homeless/rooflessness.
- Young people between 18 and 35 were the population most often asking for mental health support; mostly due to anxiety, depression, and family issues.
Our Response
Between Jan-June 2024 we have conducted the following work
Youth & Family Prevention & Outreach Services
- 15+ educational workshops, talks and seminars provided in the community.
- 65 active service users assisted with counselling & psychotherapy; a total of 685 sessions provided through this period.
- Facilitated the participation of 848 youths across the youth work programme with 33+ different activities.
- Participated in 1 International youth work exchange.
- Hosted 13 debates on youth topics and 1 public conference, exposing young people to MEPs & EU elections.
- Published 2 research reports.
Residential Shelters & Care Programme Services:
- 119 cases have been provided with shelter & care programmes through 3 facilities, with 48 successfully moving back into the community.
- 8,563 bed nights provided to date.
Community & Aftercare Services:
- 4,876 social work & other interventions carried out in the community.
- 560 individual service users supported in the past 12-months.
- 180 active service users assisted in the past 3 months at our Drop-in Centre, of which 110 are roofless cases and 30 homeless cases. All are provided with bathing, laundry, cooking, internet and telephone facilities, food, and access to Social Work services.
As with everything else in life, the work we do in service for the Maltese community costs money. Whether it is the material supplies needed to run our centres, the utilities needed to power our shelters, the staff we keep who need to pay their own bills, or our excursions enjoyed by disadvantaged youths – running the YMCA Malta comes at an ever-growing financial burden. Alongside the annual subsidy we receive from the Maltese Government, we rely on the generosity of individuals – both public and private – to keep us going.
Please consider making a donation using the options below, or by supporting one of our ongoing fundraising campaigns. Whether you are a corporate actor or an individual from the public, your contribution will go directly towards benefiting those most in need in our society.
12 Appeal Campaign
For most of us, €1 a month does not make a large impact on our lives. Yet such an amount over the course of a year can entirely recalibrate the life of a young person. The 12 Appeal Campaign was launched with this sentiment in mind.
12 Appeal is an ongoing campaign that invites companies and their staff members to donate €1 per month from their wages. Every cent collected by this campaign goes directly to supporting our youth programmes.
Your contribution will fund activities, workshops, creative projects and special events designed to equip young people with new skills and empower them to create a better world of their own.
365 Campaign
Our 365 Campaign invites both businesses and individuals to donate €1 a day – €365 annually. A simple yet powerful initiative, 365 ensures a consistent and reliable source of funding, allowing us to implement longer-term projects.
365 donors become integral partners in community development, fostering a sense of responsibility – both corporate and personal. This campaign offers a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on our islands.
Doris Cusens Fund
The Doris Cusens Fund (DCF) builds on the work which Mrs Doris Cusens began in Malta in the 1970s. Doris supported vulnerable people in the community by providing financial endowments, employment and psychological services, and by offering specialised assistance to those who sought her help.
Doris is known locally as a ‘Woman of Many Firsts’. Her life motto was: “Nothing is impossible, just dream it, plan it, believe in it and go for it.” She was part of the first ever female Maltese football team, at a time when it was still considered very taboo for females to participate in this sport.
Through the Doris Cusens Fund, YMCA Malta aims to carry on Doris’ benevolence for the next generation. The fund aims to support individuals and families living in Malta who are referred to us by fellow NGOs and Government Agencies for financial assistance, especially regarding essential needs like school supplies, household appliances, clothing, etc.
How can you support this fund?
The DCF is administered solely by YMCA Malta and is supported by private financial donations made by individuals and/or companies like you. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please contact us here
How can you benefit from this fund?
If you are currently experiencing financial hardship, you may ask your social worker to fill in the DCF application form, which can be downloaded here. Only applications sent in by social workers can be accepted at this time.
Donate with Bank Transfer
YMCA Valletta
Bank of Valletta
Republic Street, Valletta MT
BIC: VALLMTMT
Account No: MT24VALL 2201 3000 0000 4002 1938 069
Please include your full name and contact number.
Donate with Revolut
BIC: REVOLT21
IBAN: LT 6132 5001 9883 319 222
Please include your full name and contact number.
Sponsor a BED
‘Sponsor a BED’ covers the daily, weekly or monthly costs we incur for providing a bed and board to someone in need of shelter at our Dar Niki Cassar or Y Communal House.
Sponsor a BED for 1 day
€15
Sponsor a BED for 1 week
€105
Sponsor a BED for 1 month
€365
VAT: MT1790-5515
For more information on how we use donations, or to inquire about ways you can help us, please contact us here
Thank you/Grazzi ħafna