Malta’s civil society is larger than the handful of organisations that make the news. This directory brings together groups working in the six areas closest to Malta Housing Watch: heritage, the environment, animal welfare, residents’ rights, housing rights and social welfare.
How to use this directory. Choose the issue closest to your own experience. Visit the organisation’s website, check its current work and decide whether to join, volunteer, donate or ask for guidance. A listing is not an endorsement, and organisational details can change. Check current enrolment details in the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations directory.
Some organisations belong in more than one section. That is deliberate. Housing, planning, poverty, the environment and residents’ quality of life do not sit in separate boxes.
Heritage protection
- Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar - architectural and rural heritage, planning objections and public campaigns.
- Din l-Art Ħelwa - National Trust of Malta - protection, restoration and management of historic sites.
- Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti - museums, exhibitions, publications and cultural-heritage awareness.
- Wirt Għawdex - Gozo and Comino’s natural, archaeological, historical and cultural heritage.
- Għawdix - voice for Gozo’s residents on over-development, height and aesthetics of buildings, ODZ and Natura 2000 protection, and good governance.
- Wirt iż-Żejtun - Żejtun’s local cultural, environmental, historical and archaeological heritage.
- Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - military and industrial heritage sites, preservation and public interpretation.
- Malta Historical Society - historical research, publications and public understanding of Malta’s past.
- Archaeological Society Malta - archaeological study, talks and public awareness.
- Malta Society of Arts - arts, crafts and cultural activity from Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta.
- Inizjamed - Maltese and Mediterranean literature, translation and cultural exchange.
- Kamra tal-Periti - the professional body for architects and civil engineers, with work on the built environment and planning policy.
Environment and climate action
- ACT - Malta - practical and sustainable solutions to societal issues involving the environment, arts, economy and health.
- Nature Trust - FEE Malta - nature conservation, wildlife rescue, environmental education and protected sites.
- Friends of the Earth Malta - climate justice, biodiversity, food systems and sustainable resource use.
- BirdLife Malta - wild birds, habitats, nature reserves, research and action against illegal hunting.
- Din l-Art Ħelwa - natural and built heritage, conservation, restoration and planning advocacy.
- Moviment Graffitti - land use, public access, overdevelopment, social justice and animal rights.
- Żibel - clean-ups, waste reduction and marine environmental action.
- Malta Ranger Unit - monitoring, documenting and reporting environmental offences.
- Ramblers’ Association of Malta - countryside access, public rights of way and rural protection.
- Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park - conservation and public enjoyment of Malta’s first national park.
- Koperattiva Rurali Manikata - sustainable agriculture, rural heritage and the Manikata community.
- Malta Herpetological Society - study and conservation of Malta’s reptiles and amphibians.
- Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee - protection of the endemic Maltese honey bee.
- Bee Savers Malta - rescue and relocation of bee swarms.
Animal welfare and rights
- MSPCA - animal protection, sheltering, adoption and public education.
- Love for Strays Malta - stray-animal care, feeding, treatment and humane colony management.
- Noah’s Ark Dog Sanctuary - rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of abandoned dogs.
- Association for Abandoned Animals - shelter, care, rehabilitation and rehoming.
- The Island Sanctuary - volunteer-run care and rehoming for abandoned dogs.
- Kitty Guardians for Strays - rescue, feeding, medical care and trap-neuter-return work for cats.
- CSAF - Carers for Stray and Abandoned Felines - sanctuary and long-term care for vulnerable cats.
- Animal Care Malta - cat rescue, sanctuary care, neutering and rehoming.
- Animal Alliance Malta - rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming, with a focus on cats.
- Happy Paws Malta - animal rescue and accessible veterinary care.
- RMJ Horse Rescue Malta - rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of horses.
- C.L.A.W.S Malta - cat rescue, colony care, rehabilitation and adoption.
- Animal Guardians Malta - animal welfare, rescue and care.
- Second Chance Horse Rescue - rescue and rehabilitation of neglected horses.
- Animal Protectors Malta - animal protection and welfare.
Residents’ rights
- Noise Abatement Society of Malta (NASoM) - advocated for residents’ right to a peaceful environment free from noise pollution for 15 years. Participated in working groups, local councils and media. Ceased operations in August 2025, citing inadequate legislation and responsibility fragmented across ten regulatory bodies with no coordination mechanism.
The detailed Residents’ Groups directory covers publicly documented locality groups from Valletta, Sliema, Marsaskala, Mellieħa, Żurrieq, Birżebbuġa, Marsa, Santa Luċija, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Swatar, Siġġiewi, Marsaxlokk and Żejtun. It also includes Leħen ir-Resident and Home Owners Association Malta.
Housing rights
- Moviment Graffitti - housing justice, tenants, land use and action against overdevelopment.
- Solidarjetà - workers’ and tenants’ organising, rental abuse and housing affordability.
- Il-Kollettiv - housing, residents’ groups, democratic reform and the property sector.
- Home Owners Association Malta - third-party construction damage and the rights of people protecting their homes.
- YMCA Malta - homelessness, shelter, outreach and routes back to independent living.
- Aditus Foundation - human-rights advocacy and assistance for people facing vulnerability, including migrants and asylum seekers.
Social welfare
- Foodbank Lifeline Foundation - emergency food support for households in short-term crisis.
- Caritas Malta - poverty, addiction services, counselling, shelter and social support.
- St Jeanne Antide Foundation - support for vulnerable families, domestic-violence survivors and caregivers.
- YMCA Malta - homelessness services, residential shelters, youth work and family support.
- Fondazzjoni Sebħ - residential and community support for children, women and families.
- OASI Foundation - addiction prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and family support in Gozo.
- SOS Malta - social solidarity, inclusion, volunteering and emergency support.
- Dar Merħba Bik - shelter and support for women and children escaping domestic violence.
- Victim Support Malta - emotional support, counselling and legal information for victims of crime.
- Smiling with Jerome Foundation - practical, financial and emotional support for people facing serious illness.
- Karl Vella Foundation - therapeutic and educational support for children affected by illness or loss in the family.
- The Malta Trust Foundation - projects addressing disability, mental health, education and youth inclusion.
- Fidem Charity Foundation - education, wellbeing and arts programmes for vulnerable women and children.
- Women for Women Foundation - emergency help, education and mentoring for women and girls.
- Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem - shelter and support for people experiencing homelessness and mental-health difficulties.
- bBrave - anti-bullying education, awareness and support.
- RMHC Malta - educational, therapeutic and family support for children and young people.
- Minus One Support Group - peer support and counselling after the loss of a spouse or partner.
- SKOP - national platform connecting Maltese development and humanitarian organisations.
- Paulo Freire Institute Foundation - literacy, community development and empowerment.
- National Foster Care Association Malta - support for foster families and promotion of fostering.
- Fondazzjoni Mid-Dlam għad-Dawl - support for prisoners’ families and restorative justice.
- Ċentru Tbexbix - community support and educational work in Cospicua.
- Blue Door Foundation - education and community support for adult refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
A directory only matters if people use it. Follow one group. Attend one activity. Offer one skill. Civil society gains weight when ordinary people turn a list of names into a living network.
Directory sources
- Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations - directory
- Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector - directory access
- Superintendence of Cultural Heritage - cultural heritage NGO register
- Maltese Charities - environment directory
- Maltese Charities - animal welfare directory
- Maltese Charities - social support directory
Sources and organisation links checked 10 August 2026. This is a focused directory, not the complete register of Malta’s voluntary sector.