Volunteering week is the perfect time to give a big thank you to all those people who give their time to support the branch, without whom there would be no campaign for real ale or any of the fantastic beer festivals that the organisation hosts throughout the country.

These are interesting times for the campaign. With varying opinions regarding the Revitalisation Project many people have turned away from CAMRA stating that it no longer represents them or their views. There are also those who have strong opinions regarding the organisation despite not being members or in some cases being inactive members.

The only way to influence the direction of the campaign is to become and remain actively involved. You may not agree with certain aspects of the campaign but the more you become involved the more you understand and appreciate the complexities involved in running such a large organisation. Perhaps as I have found it will lead you to have a better understanding of why certain decisions are made leading to your perceptions of the campaign being more informed.

Then, of course, volunteering for CAMRA brings benefits, particularly the social aspects, as staffing officer for the Liverpool beer festival I see the pleasure people get in working at the festival, meeting new people and old friends as well as, of course, sampling some great beer.

I’ll leave the final word to Steve Berks, when I asked for someone to share their experience of volunteering for CAMRA this was his response, I think, it says it all.

“I have more than twenty years’ experience of volunteering for CAMRA and can highly recommend it. To enjoy volunteering you need to passionately believe in the cause that you are volunteering for, that for me was no problem, as a lover of real ale and real cider promoting that cause was never going to be regarded as work. There are many ways to help your local branch, volunteering at the beer festival always jumps to mind but that’s only once a year. Think about staffing a CAMRA information desk, delivering Mersey Ale to four pubs near your home or assisting the committee on one of its projects.

The personal benefits of volunteering are numerous, increased social activity, camaraderie with the other volunteers, gaining personal confidence, learning new skills, exposure to people and places that you wouldn’t get in your normal daily life and above all personal satisfaction knowing that you are a giver not a taker. I have no doubt at all that I am a more rounded person for giving some time to CAMRA.”