The Big Society is struggling to capture the imagination of the public as a poll shows that more than half of voters claim not to have heard of the idea.

But while many have not heard of the Conservative policy to encourage personal responsibility and community spirit, a similar proportion of voters (54 per cent) believe it is a good idea once it is explained to them, according to the Ipsos Mori poll commissioned by the RSA and released today.

Two-thirds of people also agree that government has tried to provide too much in recent years, and that individuals ought to take more responsibility.

There is widespread scepticism, however, that the Big Society is a cover for the government cutting back on services, with 57 per cent of people suspecting this is the case.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the RSA, said: “The poll points to there being a gap between, on the one hand, people’s support of the idea and their willingness to step forward themselves and, on the other, their support for devolving power and their intolerance of ‘postcode lotteries’.

“The third finding is that unless politicians are talking about the Big Society constantly, it soon slips from public imagination. Recognition of the idea seems to have fallen in the last few months.”