Phil has long been involved in the third sector and community based projects and has a background in voluntary youth work. He began volunteering within the Refugee and Asylum sector eleven years ago with a night shelter operated by ASSIST Sheffield for people who had been made street destitute due to the refusal of their application for asylum. In 2014 he joined ASSIST as a full time staff member and currently works as their Office Manager. He joined the SYRLJ Board in 2018.