Governor Profile - Phil McGrath
Meet Phil
In my professional career I have gained over 22 years of youth work experience which has enabled me to use my skills and innovative ideas to create and deliver effective educational youth work programmes. This experience has led me to develop work with young people and the community in projects as diverse as crime prevention and reduction (including the Wise Up Project, Marsh Auto Project and the “Barton Boys” group) through to developing work with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Tensing and through the development of a community theatre company.
My early career gave me the opportunity to work in statutory, church and voluntary settings and enabled a sound grounding into youth and community work.
After gaining a youth and community work qualification at Plater College, Oxford, I have spent the past 14 years managing YMCA youth work projects at North Shields YMCA and, more recently, at Lancaster and District YMCA. During this time I have been responsible for offering advice and support on matters relating to work with young people at various levels including to trustees, managers, staff and the local community.
I have experience in fundraising particularly with Charitable Trusts and through Statutory Sector SLA’s, and I have experience in writing fundraising applications ranging from £500 - £300,000. I have also managed fundraising consultants and a Fundraising Manager.
My own motivation for this work comes from my commitment to the principles of youth work and a belief in the potential of young people towards the pursuit of re-generation and transformation of their communities.
Current work includes the development of accommodation solutions for young people in severe housing crisis and the development of innovative solutions to challenge offending behaviour. I have also led the work to develop a Community Radio Station for the District and am currently the license holder of a 5 year Ofcom license for broadcasting on FM via Diversity 103.5FM.
Hailing originally from Northumberland, I have lived and worked in Lancaster for the past 13 years and I am constantly impressed with the diverse nature of the City and the wider District. I have headed up the development of the Lancaster Community Festival for the past 3 years and I am working on the development of number 4.
In my spare time (!) I enjoy football, both as a player and spectator and I present a weekly Radio Show covering local news and music of the 1950’s and 60’s.
