Rana Jawad is Professor of Global Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. She has a long running interest in welfare theory and the role of religion in social policy. She is best known for her work on social policy and religious welfare provision in the region of the Middle East. She has conducted various pieces of research on religion and social policy both in the UK and overseas.

"This book does so much more than the title suggests ... In many ways, this is the book on religion and social policy that we have all been waiting for." Social Policy & Administration "The connections between religion and welfare are growing in importance almost by the day. Rana Jawad's contribution to the debate is particularly welcome: it is historically informed, theoretically grounded and abundantly illustrated. It will become required reading for academics and policy-makers alike." Grace Davie, University of Exeter "For too long social services and the welfare state in the UK have been discussed without reference to religion. In a single volume, Jawad puts that right. She offers a comprehensive overview of religion's vital role in the past and present of social welfare, and shows what an important contribution faith can still make to its theory and practice in the 21st century." Linda Woodhead, Professor of Sociology of Religion, Lancaster University

• Contents: Part one: Religious welfare in historical and theoretical context: Introduction: religion and wellbeing in the UK from historical context to contemporary social policy; Theorising religious welfare; Key concepts in religious welfare practice; Part two: Religious welfare practice: Education; Health support services; Housing and community regeneration; Social care; Social work; Cultural and recreational activities; Financial support and poverty-reduction; Conclusion: implications for social policy in the UK.

Rana Jawad is Professor of Global Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. She has a long running interest in welfare theory and the role of religion in social policy. She is best known for her work on social policy and religious welfare provision in the region of the Middle East. She has conducted various pieces of research on religion and social policy both in the UK and overseas.

"This book does so much more than the title suggests ... In many ways, this is the book on religion and social policy that we have all been waiting for." Social Policy & Administration "The connections between religion and welfare are growing in importance almost by the day. Rana Jawad's contribution to the debate is particularly welcome: it is historically informed, theoretically grounded and abundantly illustrated. It will become required reading for academics and policy-makers alike." Grace Davie, University of Exeter "For too long social services and the welfare state in the UK have been discussed without reference to religion. In a single volume, Jawad puts that right. She offers a comprehensive overview of religion's vital role in the past and present of social welfare, and shows what an important contribution faith can still make to its theory and practice in the 21st century." Linda Woodhead, Professor of Sociology of Religion, Lancaster University

• Contents: Part one: Religious welfare in historical and theoretical context: Introduction: religion and wellbeing in the UK from historical context to contemporary social policy; Theorising religious welfare; Key concepts in religious welfare practice; Part two: Religious welfare practice: Education; Health support services; Housing and community regeneration; Social care; Social work; Cultural and recreational activities; Financial support and poverty-reduction; Conclusion: implications for social policy in the UK.

Rana Jawad is Professor of Global Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. She has a long running interest in welfare theory and the role of religion in social policy. She is best known for her work on social policy and religious welfare provision in the region of the Middle East. She has conducted various pieces of research on religion and social policy both in the UK and overseas.

"This book does so much more than the title suggests ... In many ways, this is the book on religion and social policy that we have all been waiting for." Social Policy & Administration "The connections between religion and welfare are growing in importance almost by the day. Rana Jawad's contribution to the debate is particularly welcome: it is historically informed, theoretically grounded and abundantly illustrated. It will become required reading for academics and policy-makers alike." Grace Davie, University of Exeter "For too long social services and the welfare state in the UK have been discussed without reference to religion. In a single volume, Jawad puts that right. She offers a comprehensive overview of religion's vital role in the past and present of social welfare, and shows what an important contribution faith can still make to its theory and practice in the 21st century." Linda Woodhead, Professor of Sociology of Religion, Lancaster University

• Contents: Part one: Religious welfare in historical and theoretical context: Introduction: religion and wellbeing in the UK from historical context to contemporary social policy; Theorising religious welfare; Key concepts in religious welfare practice; Part two: Religious welfare practice: Education; Health support services; Housing and community regeneration; Social care; Social work; Cultural and recreational activities; Financial support and poverty-reduction; Conclusion: implications for social policy in the UK.