It was of utmost importance that the voluntary sector worked in an organised, collective and holistic manner, the Parliamentary Secretary for Information, Chris Said, said this morning.

Speaking during a seminar “Support-Training-Networking- For a better Voluntary Sector” organised by the National Council for the Voluntary Sector in collaboration with the Commission for Voluntary Organisations, Dr Said praised the voluntary concept and said that the work done by volunteers could not be measured.

The seminar was held to disseminate information about the law, registration and functions of the council, as well as the aims of the Voluntary Organisation Fund. A strategic plan for the sector was also presented.

The council started operating in October and its role is to serve as a platform for cooperation between voluntary organisations and the government. It would also be providing centralised support for organisations, helping them act in a professional manner.

In less than a year, there were already 300 registered non-governmental organisations.

Dr Said said that the European Union offered NGOs a lot of potential and through Meusac’s funding unit the government wanted to help NGOs maximise this potential.