About The OMV
We are a UK-based Catholic charity of young people, aged 17–29, serving Christ through caring and providing companionship for disabled and unwell adults.
Who we are
The Order of Malta Volunteers was founded in 1974 with two enduring aims:
To enable new opportunities and experiences for disabled adults, away from their everyday lives.
To give young people (aged 17 – 29) the opportunity to care, volunteer, and grow through service.
We are the youth branch of the Order of Malta in Great Britain, part of a centuries-old tradition of service to the ‘sick and the poor’.
For over 50 years, The OMV has provided care and companionship to our disabled guests: we have welcomed over 725 disabled and unwell guests, supported thousands more through international and local projects, and shaped the lives of nearly 4,000 young volunteers.
The OMV is more than a charity. It’s a transformative experience. Lifelong friendships and marriages have grown from our shared service. Many of our guests and volunteers return year after year, and an ever-growing number of second and third generation OMVers continue the legacy of faith in action.
The OMV is entirely volunteer-run and funded by donations. We continue to grow while staying true to the founding vision: to serve with love, humility, and joy. Join our family and discover what it means to live your faith through action.
What we do
We run activities for our disabled guests: pilgrimages, reunions, and residential camps throughout the year.
Our flagship activity is the annual Lourdes pilgrimage, where around 185 volunteers, including medics and chaplains, support 40 guests with dignity, love, and joy. Each year, we welcome a new intake of around 60 young volunteers.
All our activities combine three core values:
CARE: Volunteers provide hands-on personalised support for our guests’ physical needs. It’s a steep learning curve, but one filled with purpose. Training, teamwork, and compassion are central. Another focus of our care is providing companionship. Our guests experience the basic yet essential bonds of friendship and affection, receiving unconditional acceptance, joy, and love. Unique and life-changing relationships are formed through the OMV.
SPIRITUAL: We are a Catholic organisation with a strong chaplaincy team. Our activities offer space for reflection, prayer, and discussion. Faith is not a prerequisite, it’s a journey we walk together. The OMV’s spirituality is lived through devotion, charity, and joy, and deepens through service.
SOCIAL: The OMV is a warm, welcoming community. Volunteers form lasting friendships through shared experiences, informal socials, and events like our monthly Mass and the White Knights Ball. We celebrate together, and support one another beyond our activities.