The Big Society will need more than “good intentions and hot air” if it is to succeed, Sir Stuart Etherington will warn tonight in a speech at Cass Business School.

While the NCVO chief will argue that the Big Society agenda presents key opportunities for the sector, he is expected to add that it “should not just be about the state pulling back, but about the state and civil society working together, supporting each other through the different roles they play”.

He will also warn that civil society organisations should not be expected to simply fill in the gaps left by spending cuts, and that the government should not attempt to direct voluntary action, as it is “by its nature spontaneous”.

Sir Stuart’s proposed framework for the Big Society includes:

• The creation of a Civil Society Select Committee to promote the role and needs of the sector in Whitehall
• Making the proposed Big Society Day a bank holiday to celebrate community activity
• Offering grants for communities to set up local groups
• Incentivising employers to encourage volunteering