Will Gaines is your elected Vice President Student Life of Chester Students’ Union for 2025/26.

Contact Will
Get in touch: sustudentlife@chester.ac.uk
Will’s Priorities
BEING PROACTIVE TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPORTS AND SOCIETIES
This will be through sponsorships, partnerships, and more exposure on social media.
BEING COLLABORATIVE AND WORKING ALONGSIDE MY FELLOW OFFICERS
We’ll be delivering campaigns around anti-spiking, sexual health, wellbeing support, and more.
ENSURING STUDENT SPACES ARE INCLUSIVE
We’ll be making sure campus spaces are accessible and being used by more students, creating spaces where students want to come together.
SHARED OFFICER GOALS
Make University Worth It!
We’re committed to championing every student and making sure you get the most out of your university experience by making you feel valued and supported while having the opportunities you deserve to feel part of the Chester and student community.
Here’s how:
1. Holding the University accountable
We’ll challenge the quality of teaching, communication, services and lead by example through transparency and action. We’ll keep you updated on all the changes – good and bad – by working on ways we can close the feedback loop and by sharing timely responses on issues that matter to you.
2. Building real student communities
From regular, inclusive events, to stronger funding and visibility for Societies and Sports, we’ll help every student find their place at Chester. We’ll keep that support going all year round with funding and opportunities, from sponsorships to showcase events that increase your presence on this campus, all while ensuring the vibrance you bring to your campus is valued and appreciated by all staff and students.
3. Creating student-owned spaces
We’ll make CSU more visible across every site, and fight for more student-owned, accessible spaces that reflect your needs. We will do this by making the Union spaces feel owned by students by listening to how you want you space to feel and look. We will come to you to ensure everyone is impacted by the CSU mission.
About Will
Hi everyone. I am your CSU Vice President Student Life for the 2025/26 academic year. I love to play and coach rugby. I studied sports and exercise science and will be graduating in November!
My Role here at CSU is to work closely with the societies, student services team, and my fellow Officers to make sure your voice is heard and to ensure your university experience is the best it can be!
Q&A with Will
What is your guilty pleasure?
Watching Gossip Girl.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
Speaking to the students and knowing the work you do can improve their university experience.
What did you study?
Sports and Exercise Science.
What is it like to work on your team?
It is cool to be a part of a team that all want to champion student voice and collectively work towards a better student experience.
What do you like doing when you aren’t being an Officer?
I play and coach rugby, and I’d watch any sport.
What is your favourite TV show?
The Big Bang Theory…
Why did you run for VP Student Life?
I ran for the Vice President of Student Life role to make a positive impact on the lives of students. I’ve seen firsthand how societies and sports teams in the Uni can support students, and I want to support students. I want to be in a position where I can advocate for students’ needs and make sure their voices are heard.
Committees Will Attends
- Senate
- Accommodation Steering Group
- Athletics Union Forum
- Chaplaincy Project Steering Group
- Equality Forum
- Race Advocate Meetings
- Race Equality Challenge Group
- Safer Streets Project
- Social Capital Steering Group
- Student Voice & Experience Committee
- Students in Chester Forum
- Unacceptable Behaviours Group
- University & Community Liaison Meetings
- Mobile App Project Board
- Transport Steering Group
- Wellbeing Steering Group
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