Inspire Foundation Malta welcomed Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli for a tour of its Marsascala facility which currently offers services for more than 400 attendees.

Inspire Foundation Malta supports people with disabilities in achieving their true potential through the provision of specific strategies, materials and other resources that help each individual’s unique learning and participation in educational, therapeutic and leisure activities.

The facilities include a multi-sensory suite and a hydrotherapy pool among others. Inspire offers an array of services to assist those with learning disabilities including occupational therapy, communication therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic horseback riding, animal-assisted activities, dance and movement therapy and more.

The foundation also has several specific programmes, namely the STEP intensive early intervention programme for young children, STEP Forward as well as LinC (Learning in Context), the School Outreach Programme, and STAR for young adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said how the collaboration between the St. Leonard Band Club, Ħal Kirkop and Inspire Foundation is a living testament to how much volunteering has a major role in terms of inclusion and the disability sector.

She spoke about the Government’s commitment to assist voluntary organisations through the various schemes within the voluntary sector that are issued during the year. She explained how this Concert will be aided through one of these schemes, namely, the Quality of Life scheme, and from which the St. Leonard Band Club has benefited.

Minister Farrugia Portelli praised the services offered by the Inspire Foundation, for the hope and courage that these services give not only to people with disabilities but also to their families.

Inspire CEO, Antonello Gauci explained how Inspire specialises in aiding those on the autism spectrum, those with profound multiple learning difficulties and those with behaviours of concern.

Whilst the NGO receives government funding for a number of its programmes, it still requires the support of public donations and other forms of fundraising to continue to invest in its highly specialised facilities in both Malta and Gozo as well as its specialised staff and services that grow in demand year upon year.

The Inspire Give and Take Charity Thrift Shops also provide a source of revenue for the foundation, selling second-hand items in good condition, also promoting a more sustainable way of living.

One major upcoming fundraising initiative is the 5th edition of the ‘80s and 90s Music Festival’. Organised by K Music Events. The festival is set to take place on 29th July 2022 at 20:00 hours at Hal Kirkop. The event is free to attend, but any donations upon entrance will be collected in aid of Inspire Malta. The concert will feature a Tina Turner tribute act called Typically Tina, as well as top local DJs Alex Reflex Grech, Sue Mifsud and Renato Vella.

Mr Louis Zammit, President of St Leonard Band Club and the organisers of the festival also expressed their enthusiasm to contribute to such a worthy cause and thanked Inspire for their trust in organising this event for the 5th year. “As a voluntary organisation ourselves, K Music Events are more than happy to organise this event for such a good cause. These events help us grow in our community, whilst helping others who require some form of assistance”.

For more information, visit www.inspire.org.mt