The Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has asked 20 charitable organisations to help form Tory policy for addressing persistent social need.

The Tory leader has put helping the vulnerable at the heart of his policies and will host a conference with the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations in February.

The Tories will ask the diverse cross-section of Britain's charities for their views on involving the voluntary sector in the delivery of public services and how central government can better represent their interests and provide funding.

Announcing the plans, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said the party was determined to build "a more effective relationship between government and the voluntary sector".

Labour have wasted five years of prosperity by not tackling the root causes of society's deepest problems Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin

"Conservatives believe government must do much more to support those community and faith-based groups that give personal care to needy people.

"It is not enough just to talk," he added.

"We must deliver."

Too many people had little to celebrate on New Year's Eve, Mr Letwin said.

"Labour have wasted five years of prosperity by not tackling the root causes of society's deepest problems.

"They have expanded the power of the bureaucratic state at the expense of dynamic voluntary groups most effective at helping rough sleepers, victims of domestic violence and drug addicts."