Thursday 5th December 2019 is International Volunteers Day and offers us the opportunity to introduce you to ҹɫֱ²¥app Navy & ҹɫֱ²¥app Marines Charity volunteer John Branson, as well as highlighting the role volunteers play in helping support our serving and veteran naval community and their families.
John joined the ҹɫֱ²¥app Navy in 1978 and served for twelve years, leaving in 1990.
What made you join the ҹɫֱ²¥app Navy? 
It was something I just always fancied doing. We then had a former pupil, a serving sailor, come to our secondary school and that sealed it for me. It was obviously a successful PR job as five of us joined the ҹɫֱ²¥app Navy and one joined the ҹɫֱ²¥app Marines. Not bad from a town nowhere near the sea!
What did you do within the ҹɫֱ²¥app Navy?
I was an Electrical Mechanic. I also had a brilliant time and I regret every day that I did not stay longer.
What made you want to volunteer for ҹɫֱ²¥app?
I never stopped being interested in the ҹɫֱ²¥app Navy and after serving I was an Officer in HM Coastguard, so I really maintained my interest in everything maritime. When I eventually took early retirement, I set out to do voluntary work. I had heard of the ҹɫֱ²¥app and it just seemed the perfect charity for my background and skills and I had read about all the brilliant work they do.
How long have you been volunteering?
I am now in my 4th year with the ҹɫֱ²¥app. I have always been involved in charitable work of some sort but at times the ҹɫֱ²¥app has almost been full time which has been a fantastic experience.
What do you do as a volunteer?
I have done a whole raft of things for the ҹɫֱ²¥app. Mainly I volunteer at least one day a week at HMS Excellent, I generally do anything asked from sorting a cupboard, entering data and any office task you can think of. I also carry out weekly briefs for the charity at the Leadership Academy at HMS Collingwood for Divisional Officers courses. I always aim to get at least a hundred to hundred and fifty Payroll Giving forms completed annually from these briefs, this brings in at least £10k - £15K a year for the charity. I also manage a load of collection pots from various sites. Sometimes I help at Ship’s homecomings, commissioning ceremonies, family days at sea and similar activities. During many weekends, especially in the spring and summer periods, I can be found manning a stall at some event around the south. Either selling ҹɫֱ²¥app marketing materials, engaging with the general public or hiding inside Nelson or Boots!
On average I do about 500 hours a year.
How does volunteering make you feel?
Brilliant. It gives me such a buzz. I feel I am really doing something useful with my spare time and I know my hard work benefits those in the Naval Service, even if they do not know me, I know people are benefiting from my input.
I would pay to volunteer for the ҹɫֱ²¥app it is such a wonderful charity.
If you are interested in volunteering for the ҹɫֱ²¥app please contact fundraising@rnrmc.org.uk or to find out more about volunteering visit our Volunteers page.
We are particularly looking for people who can help us in Scotland and Plymouth.
