 He studied at the Victoria University of Manchester, and also became very active in the Ancoats Settlement.In 1903, he joined the Independent Labour Party and the Fabian Society, and from 1905 he served a year on the executive of his union.Mallon moved to London in 1906 to work at the Toynbee Hall settlement, and in addition became secretary of the National League to Establish a Minimum Wage.