Paul has been a trustee of Church Urban Fund since 2005 and took on the role of Executive chair in 2013. He was before that Archdeacon of Loughborough and a Canon Residentiary of Leicester cathedral.
He has extensive practical experience of social justice issues from a faith perspective having worked previously as Social Responsibility Adviser to the Bishop of St Albans and as Vicar of Thornbury in Bradford. During his time in Thornbury he established the Thornbury Centre, a Church-based multicultural community centre and social enterprise, and the Peaceworks initiative, working to bring people of different faiths together to develop mutual understanding.
As an Independent Member of West Yorkshire Police Authority and a Non-Executive of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT he has extensive experience of community relations and engagement, financial management, and human resource management as well as strategic skills.