Student Impact

Student-Led Societies

Evergreen Society

Evergreen is the University's climate and humanitarian justice society. Dedicated to living a happier, healthier, and greener future together, for students and the wider Chester community. The society makes a conscious effort to foster a sense of community among its members, which is important for the motivation to curate the change they wish to see.

Evergreen’s recent achievements include:

Instagram: @csu_evergreen

Chester Students’ Union webpage: Evergreen

Student Carbon Literacy Facilitators (CLF)

Students who are Carbon Literate can also train to become a Carbon Literacy Facilitator (CLF). This training is accessible to all eligible students, as delivery is offered either in person or online. 

Through the Unijob scheme, the University now offers paid opportunities for Student Carbon Literacy Facilitators. This role delivers engaging and impactful Carbon Literacy training sessions to peers and staff.  

Facilitators play a key part in raising awareness of climate change, promoting sustainable practices, and empowering others to take meaningful climate action by: 

  • Helping participants understand climate science, carbon footprints, and guiding them in developing their own climate actions.  
  • Encourage discussion and reflection on personal and institutional climate impacts, fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment.  
  • Providing feedback and contributing ideas to enhance training delivery and participant experience.  
  • Working closely with the Sustainability team and other facilitators to ensure consistency and quality across sessions.  

Email: carbonliteracytraining@chester.ac.uk

Student Projects & Activities

Established by our students, Chester’s on-site swap shop has been designed to help students and staff access affordable, good-conditioned "pre-loved" clothing and fancy-dress costumes. Held every month, the Swap Shop offers a happier, more inclusive and sustainable experience. Since 2024, the Swap Shop has saved over 500 items of clothing from going to landfill. 

In June 2025, the Criminology Society also hosted its first-ever book swap in collaboration with the Sustainability and Library teams, with 88 books redirected from waste streams. 

From 2025-26, the Evergreen Society took ownership of the swap shop, making the scheme completely student led. Members create promotions, audit donations, oversee the initiative’s administration, and facilitate the shop when it’s open. Staff can also get involved by donating or swapping fancy dress items, clothing, accessories or books at each Swap Shop. 

Email - csuevergreensoc@chester.ac.uk. 

Hedgehog Friendly Campus is led by students and supported by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. The project aims to make University sites a safe and attractive site for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are officially classified as vulnerable to extinction, so the project aims to make University spaces hedgehog friendly, as well as give people the tools to make their own spaces hedgehog friendly. 

Activities can include building hedgehog houses, keeping feeding stations topped up and organising litter picks. 

Email - hedgehogs@chester.ac.uk. 

In April 2026, the student-led Photography society hosted an upcycling crafts session, promoting the reuse of materials by creating baskets out of scrap paper and recycled cardboard. Liaising with the Sustainability team, and with generous donations from the University’s Print team and the Centre of Student Exchange & Language Development, the society was able to “be creative whilst also saving emissions”. 

The Sustainability team collaborated with the Volunteering team, Chester Zoo, and RECORD to support Chester’s city-wide contribution to the annual City Nature Challenge. 18 students supported the activity, discovering and logging wildlife on campus – including a range of beetles, bees, plants and even some evidence of hedgehogs. 

At a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing, a film designed to galvanise political action on nature and the climate crisis, the University invited students to lead a post-film panel discussion. The audience was encouraged by students to identify how they can engage different communities - from business to faith groups - to help build the pressure for regional and national government action.  The panel reflected on what we should learn from societal responses to other crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the role that universities can play in catalysing change.