Tom: It would be good to hear a little bit about how you first came across CARE and what got you interested in the CARE Leadership Programme?
Luke: I had just finished my year abroad and had another year left. I'd always wanted to do politics and thought, “well, how could I do that in sort of a Christian way?”
Somebody mentioned to me that somebody they knew had been on a Christian programme, but they didn’t really say anything more about it.
And then I was just scrolling through Facebook one morning and saw an advert for the CARE Leadership Programme. So, I applied. And just thought well, if I get it, I get it, and if I don’t, I don’t. I came down for selection day, I thought it's all right, do my best. I'll be happy if I get it. If not, I gave it my best shot.
And then a few weeks went by, and I'd not heard anything, and I thought, I've not actually prayed about this since applying and having an interview. I did a little bit before, but not since. So maybe I should do that.
So, I prayed, and I said, Lord, wherever you want, where you want to be, that's where I'll go. Either Sheffield, Preston or London! And just five minutes after that, I got a phone call from Philippa, saying “Luke we’d love to have you in London on the Programme!”
Then, a few months later, I was at church in Sheffield and a man I've known since I was young came to me and said "Luke, my wife and I have been supporting this charity called CARE for 30 years and every year they send us a leaflet of different interns that are doing their programme that year. For the past six months, my wife and I have been praying that your face will be on that programme for next year.”
And I was like, “wow”, because I’d got on to it. They had no idea that I applied, nor that I was interested in politics, or anything like that. Yet for some reason, that had been their prayer.
So, after that, I had confidence that I was in the right place.
Tom: Very reassuring. What first got you interested in politics?
Luke: I think I've always liked my own opinions and have been happy to argue about them.
But honestly, I think it started with my experience of immigration. My part of Sheffield is very diverse, very multicultural. My grandad was an immigrant from Yemen; my stepdad is from Jamaica. I've seen some of the best parts of immigration working really well.
But then I noticed that in the past few years, there have been tensions between different communities where there didn’t use to be tension, and that made me sad. So, I thought, how can we create a solution to this in a compassionate way?
I started thinking about politics on that one very specific issue, which I suppose was very topical throughout the Brexit years. That was probably the thing that really got me thinking politically.
From there, I started thinking “what do I think about the environment?” “What do I think about home affairs?” and then it got a bit out of control.
Tom: What were your hopes coming on to the Programme?
Luke: I think the big thing I was really looking forward to, particularly with the placement, was actually understanding how Parliament works because, and I’ve realised since being here, it doesn't matter how many books you read, how many videos you watch, you'll never understand how Westminster works properly until you have actually seen it firsthand.
So, I’ve loved just seeing politics up close and being able to have this space to think and talk about it.
Tom: Learning is a two-pronged thing; you’ve got the placement in Parliament and then you’ve also got the study day every Friday at CARE. What are some of the standout lessons, ideas, or discussions that you've had coming out of the study days?
Luke: There have been some great Fridays and some really challenging Fridays.
Sometimes you'll be sat there, and you'll be getting excited because the speakers are sharing what you're thinking. But then you also get speakers that will have a completely approach. That's the thing, you get a spectrum of speakers, left wing, right wing, everywhere in between.
It has taught me to wrestle with “how do I challenge this in a way that's constructive and not simply argumentative?” And so that's been good, it's really made me think critically about different issues.
Tom: Obviously, it's only a yearlong programme, what kind of things are you hoping to take with you and keep building, keep working, with in the years ahead?
Luke: I would love to remain engaged politically, whether with a local party branch, standing for local council, or eventually standing for Parliament in some capacity. Remaining engaged is something I really want to do.
One of the things I’ve loved about the Programme is the range of opinions across the members. What I don't want to do now is just go back home and be surrounded by friends who all think the same and not have any of that debate.
So, after CARE, I want to keep in touch with people who think differently, to put myself in opportunities to be challenged, and to challenge.
Tom: Having been on the Programme this year what are some of the things that we, as an Alumni network, can be praying for you, and also for the grads who will start on the next Programme?
Luke: Well, we do three terms. So, if I was to share prayer requests for each term I’d say…
I think for the first term the prayer for most was just settling in. If you're not from London, then coming to London for the first time is just crazy. That's a great thing to pray for, that the new grads will settle in really well, that they'll form quick friendships, but also deep and lasting friendships.
And then January to March, that's the term when we go deeper into political theology. So, pray that the grads really take in what they're learning and apply it to their work and their lives.
And then for the final term, I think a lot of people end up feeling quite stressed because they either don't know what the next step is, or they've got a few different options, and they don't know which one to take. Or they've got no options, and they don't know where they're going to end up.
So, the final one, just pray that the stress doesn't get to people and they really feel peace from the Lord about where it is that they are called to be, and what they should be doing.
For the current year, do pray for us as we prepare to leave the Programme, with many starting new jobs. Pray that we would have peace during change and that we’d be able to take forward the lessons we have gained from the Programme into whatever comes next.
Tom: Great, thanks, Luke, good to chat.
Tom Kendall is Strategic Assistant to the CEO and heads up the alumni work at CARE, having previously been on the CARE Leadership Programme himself back in 2018-19.
Luke Goddard grew up in a single-parent family in Sheffield before moving on to study Arabic (the language of his Yemeni Grandfather) and French at the University of Central Lancashire. During this time, Luke worked in Belgium for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also studied in Jordan. Luke’s placement is with a Conservative MP.