Dick left school at 15 and worked as a butcher's boy, a farm labourer and in a record shop before joining the army at 19. He left the army in 1968 after six years including active service in Borneo and became a firefighter. Active in the Fire Brigades Union and his tenants association he was involved in community organising in his neighbourhood before winning a scholarship to Ruskin College in 1972.

After Ruskin he worked in engineering in the Midlands, before moving to the voluntary sector and then local government, in South Wales, Newcastle and London. During those twenty or so years he continued to be an activist in his trade union and in the community, ranging from being involved in setting up many voluntary organisations including a social enterprise turning over £8M annually, to campaigns on health, housing, anti-racism and etc. He was elected as a London Borough councillor in a by-election in 1985 and re-elected in 1986.

In recent years he has freelanced as an organiser, organising campaigns, conferences and music festivals, before returning to management, first as the director of a legal advice centre, then as a LB Haringey Neighbourhood Manager before working with the Young Foundation from 2007 to 2009. He is now ostensibly retired, but remains active in various fields.

Dick was awarded an MSc in Public Policy from Bristol University in 2001.