Charlie Bell - Vice President Sports

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Photo of Charlie Bell
  • Sponsorship and Career Fair for All Clubs
  • Launch a Ladies IM Football League
  • Mental Health, Accessibility, Diet and Sport Forums
  • Streamline the Shrey Process Between the Company and Clubs
  • Simpler Mini Bus System for Teams and Drivers

Vote for Charlie Bell now!

Why vote for Charlie?

Being part of sport at Southampton has positively shaped my university experience and that is why I am standing for VP Sports. In my second year at Southampton, I was elected President of the Men’s Cricket. Taking on the responsibilities of leading a large club taught me quickly how much work happens behind the scenes to make sport function properly. It also showed me how powerful sport can be when the right environment is created for teams and individuals to thrive.

Alongside this, I have served this year as an Outdoor Team Sport Representative under the VP Sports. I have worked closely with clubs across different sports, listening to their concerns and representing their needs within the Students’ Union. This has given me a wider understanding of sport at Southampton beyond just my own club, from transport and kit issues, to inclusivity, funding and long-term development. Seeing these challenges first-hand is what has motivated me to stand. I know what works, I know what doesn’t and I know where meaningful change can be made.

I am hard-working and if selected I will be fully committed. I believe leadership is not about promises but instead about delivery. If elected, my priority will be creating the best possible environment for sport to thrive. I want to reduce unnecessary barriers that frustrate clubs, so clubs can focus on performance, enjoyment, participation and also community that I have felt throughout my time at the University.

I will work to simplify minibus booking, making travel more reliable and less stressful for teams. I will push for faster and clearer Shrey kit ordering, ensuring clubs receive equipment on time and without confusion. I am committed to launching a Ladies’ Intramural Football League, expanding access to sport and giving more students the opportunity to compete in a supportive environment. After speaking to ladies who frequently partcipate in sport at the University, this gap was identified. This contributes to my aim to ensure that sport at Southampton is increasingly inclusive. I also want to introduce diet and sport forums, bringing together expertise and experience to support performance, wellbeing and education across all levels. Whilst also offering opportunites for students to talk and listen to athletes ranging from alumni to world class. Finally, I aim to create a Sponsorship and Careers Fair, helping build sustainable funding while connecting students with career opportunities linked to sport, business and industry. This reflects my belief that university sport should not only enhance student life but also contribute to personal and professional development.

The five key points I am aiming to achieve if elected would just be the start to developing a greater sporting environment. Further bridging the gap between Southampton Sport and SUSU will be pivotaI, in further plans to develop sport at Southampton. care deeply about sport at Southampton. I have led within it, represented it and listened to it. If elected, I will bring energy, commitment and change ensuring sport continues to grow, succeed and thrive for everyone involved. 

Questions & Answers

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Please note that the views expressed by candidates are their own and may not reflect the views and/or values of SUSU.
SUSU supports the expression of all lawful opinions as long as they are expressed with respect and do not attack or undermine the rights of others.
SUSU may also place reasonable restrictions on the expression of views linked to the time, place or manner that the views are expressed.

Hi, Charlie4vpsports on Instagram. Also, the same for TikTok Charlie4vpsports! Lots of content to come!!

This question was also asked to Kensa Fradd-Walker, Ran 'Nap' Wei, Chun-Min Chou, Travis Arthur

Answered by Charlie on 02/03/26 17:52

On my first day, I will aim to set up what I intend to do during my period as VP Sports. 1) launch an active review on how we can make sport more accessible for all. 2) Send out emails to all local companies and many businesses to inform them of the sponsorship fair and what we aim to do. 3) Send out applications to be apart of the Ladies IM Football committee. 4) Meet with Southampton Sport to address my plans and jubilee gym pricing and work with them to provide the best price for all SUSU members. 5) Organise a meeting with Shrey 6) Meet with all neccessary members to launch accessibility, diet, sport and mental health forums (VP Inclusion, President, VP Communities and VP Education).

This question was also asked to Kensa Fradd-Walker, Ran 'Nap' Wei, Chun-Min Chou, Travis Arthur

Answered by Charlie on 09/03/26 12:38

Hi, thank you for your question!

I did use AI tools to assist my sentence structure and clarity in my 500 word manifesto to ensure I am being direct and to the point to ensure full enagagement. Outlined in the University’s guidance GenAi can be used for “checking or editing work” https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/regulations-policies/policies/using-gen-ai-during-your-studies

I can without a doubt confirm all ideas and content of my manifesto and my campaign is all mine, ideas gathered through my own research and also through the jobs I am working in such as being your SUSU Outdoor Team Sport Representative and also Mens Cricket Club President.

SUSU prides themselves on being a personable union representing students and working with them through any issues, with a full understanding of help rather than outsourcing all functions to an ai chat bot. Ai bots lack context and also emotions so it is imperative not to be reliant on it.

This question was also asked to Charlie

Answered by Charlie on 04/03/26 15:49

Hi, thank you for your question. This is an incredibly important question.

1) I believe that transgender people are all valid, and yes completely all pronouns and prefered names should be respected. Using correct names and pronouns is an imperative way at making sure someone feels recognised and included. As VP Sports I want to create an environment where everyone has a voice and feels supported.

2) I believe that people should be able to choose bathrooms and changing rooms, ones that they feel comfortable using. Everyone deserves to feel respected and supported when being on campus and when represented by SUSU.

3) I believe that gender neutral facilities are positive as it provides individuals the opportunity to choose what feels most comfortable.

4) Sports should be inclusive for everyone. In my third pledge I am aiming to launch accessibility forums, this will offer the chance to have a direct voice for changes at SUSU. Also, if elected I will work with the sports exective committee and relevant bodies to ensure that fair and inclusive for all. I would also like to increase representation in the sports executive committee. I am currently a part of this committee as your SUSU Outdoor Team Sport Rep and increasing representation would be amazing and definitely something I want to do. I would also aim to launch initiatives and work together to make sure access is improved through all SUSU sport and to improve opportunites.

This question was also asked to Kensa Fradd-Walker, Ran 'Nap' Wei, Chun-Min Chou

Answered by Charlie on 09/03/26 16:21

Hi, thank you so much for your questions. First of all, as a part of my 3rd pledge I would be launching frequent accessibility forums. This would be a forum for you to voice your views and for me to listen and understand. From day one, I would launch an active review into how sessions/facilites can be improved to help you. I would love to look into working with Southampton Sport (Jubilee Gym) on how we can improve your experience, ranging from personalised reduced mobility classess to specifically tailoring sports sessions to reduced mobility needs. Another action plan is, I would love to introduce accessibility training to all SUSU sports clubs, making sure they understand what they need to offer to make your experience the best it can be. Also, I would love to introduce social and accessible sessions for all students who feel they would be better suited. My main goal is, from day one to listen to your needs and work with you in all aspects, if that ranges from a meeting to a forum to attending a session with you, I will make sure to represent you strongly. Bringing attention to this topic is exactly one of the reasons I am creating accessibility forums, I want your voice to be heard! I want to help you be able to access fitness like any other student. Making sport the best it can be for every single person at the university is my goal.

This question was also asked to Kensa Fradd-Walker, Ran 'Nap' Wei, Chun-Min Chou

Answered by Charlie on 06/03/26 17:15

As VP Sports I would immediately launch a lobby against Southampton Sport. SUSU must ensure that all sport at the university is well priced and accessible. By launching this lobby, I would have meetings with Southampton Sport to reduce their costing (Sports pass, general session, gym session). I would work hard to secure the change in price as I believe it is necessary. Also, as a part of my third pledge I am launching accessibility forums which will provide you a voice to Southampton Sport and SUSU, so they can hear directly from students and myself. These accessibility forums will put pressure on Southampton Sport and ensure there is pressure on them to change their costings.

This question was also asked to Charlie

Answered by Charlie on 11/03/26 12:25

Hi, thank you so much for your question. This is an incredibly important topic and certainly needs to be adressed. As VP Sports, I would have a zero tolerance for all forms of harrassment not just sexual. As a part of my sport forums, I will provide compulsory harassment awareness training to clubs ensuring they are equipped to it spot it, call it out and report it. This ensures that all sports clubs at SUSU are a safe space for all club members. As a current club president, it is extremely important that I am aware of measures to prevent this, what to do if harassment occurs and how to use the open lines of communication to the SUSU team. This is why as VP Sports, I will ensure that all committee members are trained on harassment awareness which reinforces the zero tolerance approach I will use. This topic is one that must be addressed and cannot slip under the radar. I will always have a door open to make sure every university student is heard.

This question was also asked to Kensa Fradd-Walker, Ran 'Nap' Wei, Chun-Min Chou

Answered by Charlie on 11/03/26 15:07

Thank you for your question! To go about creating the ladies IM football league, I would start by forming a student group to hear and form ideas, this would carry over through the summer so we are ready for September! Once september comes around we will launch a bring your friend event to create excitment around the IM league. Once this event is complete, we will arrange teams and launch. Students can be express ideas at sport forums and on an online suggestion forum, as the formation of this league should be collaborative! (The forums will be used to let us know what you think and if we have missed anything). Also, after speaking to many ladies throughout my campign and before, they expressed they would be very excited. Even if we have to start a 6 aside to begin with whilst it grows, we are still widening the access to sport. Joining a society can be extremely daunting and with mens IM I saw football as a great social opportunity and it became a real outlet for me in first year. Many sports in the university have successful IM leagues who run amazingly. As expressed by England Football, 2025 was a transformative year for the growth of Women's football and sport at SUSU has the potential to expand on this! (Also, the league would not take place on a day that would interfere with BUCS).

This question was also asked to Charlie

Answered by Charlie on 11/03/26 14:50