Financial resource is the biggest concern for civil society organisations in supporting the Big Society according to a new survey from consultancy CommunitySense.

The firm quizzed 40 executive and senior professionals from charities on delivering the Big Society.

It found over 95 per cent of respondents viewed financial resources as a key potential barrier to supporting the Big Society.

Further, a number of respondents highlighted concerns about cuts to existing civil society infrastructure organisations and what effect this could have on their ability to support the Big Society.

However, there was a high level of confidence in being able to secure the Big Society goal of securing community involvement amongst respondents, with only 18 per cent considering it to be a barrier.

The survey also asked charities what role they could take to support the Big Society.

Almost 80 per cent of respondents indicated that they could facilitate an advisory strategic support role and two-thirds said they could provide volunteer development and training provision.

A little over 55 per cent of those sampled would seek a delivery-focused role within the Big Society.