Every purchase transaction made using BOV cashlink cards between yesterday and August 31 will result in an automatic 3c donation by Bank of Valletta to Caritas, the bank said.

The BOV - Caritas support campaign was launched by Tonio Depasquale, the bank's CEO, and Caritas Malta director Victor Grech.

"This new campaign provides an added incentive for our customers to use the BOV cashlink, cashlink Visa and cashlink Electron cards to pay for their purchases," Mr Depasquale said.

"Not only do these cards provide a straightforward payment solution but now, thanks to the BOV - Caritas support campaign, every payment transaction will automatically result in a donation being made by the bank towards Caritas," he said.

Mr Depasquale said the initiative will not involve any extra cost to the customer or to the merchant but will result in support being provided by the bank to Caritas' most valuable work performed within the Maltese community.

Mgr Grech said Caritas was the pioneer in drug rehabilitation on the island and its services have developed over the past 20 years to include prevention and education, counselling and social work.

All Caritas' services are offered free of charge, and with expenses exceeding Lm40,000 a month, the organisation relies on the support of benefactors and sponsors.

"We are extremely grateful to Bank of Valletta for launching this campaign which, we are sure, will be successful thanks to the generosity of the Maltese public," Mgr Grech said.

He said the success of the campaign will help Caritas finance two important projects: the Caritas harm reduction shelter, a residential shelter for homeless youngsters, and the Caritas focus programme for schools, a prevention and education campaign for children and young people aged between nine and 16 years in Church, state and private schools.

Mgr Grech said that between January and June, 178 youngsters had sought the services of the Caritas harm reduction shelter, which acts as a drop-in centre offering counselling services.

Part of this focus programme is the series of Revive parties that provide an alternative venue of entertainment for youngsters who can enjoy a cigarette- and alcohol-free environment.