Campaign for Real Ale agrees to campaign for more than just real ale

Members reject suggestions that they should 'speak for all pub-goers', but vote to make organisation more 'inclusive, relevant and welcoming'

New proposals for the organisation to play a leading role in the provision of information, education and training to all those with an interest in beer, cider and perry of any type were passed by its members on Saturday (PA)

Members of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) have approved some changes to the organisation's remit, extending the group's work beyond real ale for the first time.

Proposals calling for the organisation to provide information, education and training to those with an interest in beer, cider and perry "of any type" were passed at Camra's annual general meeting on Saturday.

A more general suggestion for Camra to act as the voice of "all pub-goers" was rejected. It followed the largest consultation Camra had ever carried out, gathering views from more than 25,000 members, who filled in online surveys and attended consultation meetings across the country.

In place of its old remit, members voted to approve recommendations to add in new objectives for the campaign, designed to make the organisation more “inclusive, relevant and welcoming”.

The changes will see Camra put increased focus on educating members (and non-members) about different types of beer, and see campaigning for real cider and perry added to the objects for the first time, as well as recognising pub and club protection as key for the organisation.

The only objective that wasn’t passed was for the campaign to “act as the voice and represent the interests of all pub-goers and beer, cider and perry drinkers”.

Camra’s outgoing national chairman Colin Valentine said he was “delighted” that the majority of members agreed with the consultation findings that the organisation needed to change to remain a relevant and effective campaigning organisation.

“The recommendations for change that we made to the membership were based entirely on feedback received from members when we consulted with them as part of the Revitalisation Project," he added.

“We were determined to give every single member the right to have the final say on the recommendations by voting on the changes to the Articles of Association. The membership has taken advantage of that right and made its views clear.

“The hard work now starts to define new strategies to position CAMRA where our members have told us they want it to be. We appreciate that, that while the majority of members voted in favour most of the recommendations, there is some disagreement about how we deliver the required changes.

“We need to do all we can to reassure all members that our core campaigning objectives remain focussed on real ale, cider and perry as ever."

He reassured those who called for more far reaching changes and those who disagreed with any change that they could be "confident that their contribution to the Campaign remains as valued as ever - and that all members can continue to work together to achieve common objectives".