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Lib Dem MPs queued up to praise David Cameron's Big Society agenda (above) at the party's annual conference in Liverpool today.

Children's minister Sarah Teather said the qualities of "localism, pluralism and diversity are what the Liberal Democrats are all about", she said at a fringe event on the issue.

"I don't care which party it might have come from, the Big Society is a liberal concept."

Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, was cautiously optimistic and said it was important to capitalise and build on existing social networks, such as community councils and housing co-operatives. 

He was most concerned that local authorities, police forces and other statutory organisations should welcome volunteers as part of their workforce.

"We must change the culture that says you have to have paid people in public services."

Meanwhile poll results from IPSOS Mori found views among the public were mixed. Half of people said they had heard of the Big Society and half said they hadn't, while 54% said they thought it was a good idea in principle but wouldn't work in practice. More than half (57%) it was an excuse by government to save money by cutting back services.

Ben Page, chief executive of IPSOS Mori, said there was a high level of volunteering during the Labour government but failed to rise, despite the investment made in trying to increase it.

Speakers and delegates were generally upbeat about the chances of the Big Society prospering, but Page closed his presentation with a warning.

Some people thought they should get involved personally, according to the poll, but more widespread was the view that "people liked the idea of other people getting involved".

By Emma Maier

The Association of Directors of Social Work, which represents senior social workers in Scotland, has signed a one-year deal with a PR firm to run a public information campaign telling people what social services does. I'll be very interested to see what they come up with and how it goes. But in the meantime, it reminded me of a similar exercise by a group of charities in Scotland a few years back.

By Derren Hayes

Whether it is tanker drivers going on a national strike, motorcyclists holding a mass rally on the M6 or lorry drivers blocking the roads of central London, those who rely on petrol for their livelihoods certainly know how to get the message across that the price of fuel is hurting.