A social policy role for faith-based organisations? Lessons from the UK Jewish voluntary sector

After two decades of growing expectations that the UK voluntary (or 'third') sector will expand its social policy role, the spotlight is now focusing on specific types of voluntary organisations including community groups, black and minority ethnic associations and 'faith-based organisations'. This article notes the growing cross-party interest in the UK in religious organisations and then presents findings from two recent empirical studies of the UK Jewish voluntary sector; one on financial resources and the other on governance. We discuss the implications of our findings for a possible expanded social policy role for faith-based organisations in the UK.