Two decades of caring

City Mission Men’s Day Programme Coordinator, Phil Clarke

Men’s day programme staff member Phil is asked what he gets out of the job after nearly 20 years at the Mission.

To answer he points to a chair in the office where a former client was sitting just a little bit earlier that very morning. The client, who had been sleeping on the streets before he came to us, popped in to say hi to Phil and tell him how well he was doing. He was happy and he was celebrating still living in the flat the Mission found him 13 years ago. “That’s why I’m here,” says Phil. “I’m just passionate about helping people.”

Phil (Waikato-Tainui) is highly respected at the Mission and across the city for the mana he brings to his work with us. He is our expert hangi master who delivers each Matarangi and he worked hard to get our carving over the men’s rooms restored and reinstalled.

After a career in the fishing industry, then a spell at He Waka Tapu, Phil joined us as a staff member in our men’s emergency night shelter. Now he’s on the day shift working in the men’s day programme, which is used by many of the shelter clients.

Phil is a big believer in getting our clients doing activities and keeping busy with positive things and experiences to help them cope when they are feeling down. He also sees how much benefit they get from socialising with staff, volunteers and especially other clients.

“When they go home, unless they have good relationships with their neighbours, and nine times out of 10 they don’t, they sit alone. This is a place they can come to connect. And they can connect with any other services here if they need help, like see a social worker or an AOD counsellor, or use the foodbank, all those services we have here are available to them.”

He’s proud to work for the Mission and for the work the Mission does in the community.