Children's services professionals – from senior managers to frontline staff – increasingly recognise the importance of preventative services. Universal youth services are seen as key to this agenda.

But as resources are increasingly being used to stop high needs children on the brink of crisis from tipping over the edge, it is these very services that are bearing the brunt.

New research by charity Onside Youth Zones, in partnership with The MJ, unveils a bleak outlook for youth services within local government.

Some two-thirds of the 100 senior children's services decision-makers questioned felt that universal youth services were key to prevention in areas such as health and crime, employment and community cohesion.

Despite this, the survey revealed that increasingly councils were doubtful of their role in universal youth services going forward. Only 10% felt confident that local authorities would continue to be a direct provider of universally accessible services to children and young adults.

The report, The way forward for youth provision: A local authority survey on the future of universal youth services, revealed that none of those questioned felt they were offering ‘excellent' universal youth services. Only 28% of local authorities believe their provision ‘meets expectations', while 18% said it ‘needs improvement'.

But despite significant financial constraints, many councils across the country are looking for alternative ways of funding these services.

Nearly half of those questioned (47%) said they would be willing to consider diverting a proportion of their budgets from areas such as health or education, where there are shared outcomes.

A significant majority (81%) are looking at establishing new vehicles to increase funding. Some 42% are considering entering into partnerships with other organisations that have a track record of raising funds, 39% are exploring foundations or mutuals and 19% are considering social impact bonds.

According to the report, 35% of local authorities said the main barrier to implementing innovative approaches was ‘inadequate' governance frameworks, while 30% thought it was the complexity associated with adoption.

The research also suggests that senior decision-makers are looking to central government for insight, inspiration and guidance. Almost half (42%) felt central government should set a national vision and strategy, while only 14% thought central government should be a lead funder of universal youth services.

The chair of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) families, communities and young people policy committee, Jenny Coles, says youth services can ‘contribute to building happier and healthier communities' and improve health, wellbeing, education and employment opportunities for young people.

She says all councils understand the ‘logic' in retaining investment in these services. However, she continues: ‘As budgets get tighter, tough decisions over the future of non-statutory services have had to be made and this has had a clear impact on the preventative offer and children's social care services across the board.'

Ms Coles says services for young people have gone through ‘substantial redesign in recent years' as councils and their partners seek to find new delivery models. ‘The challenge for local authorities,' she continues, ‘will be continuing to deliver these services as our resources are shrinking.

‘ADCS would be keen to see a clear, comprehensive and cross-cutting vision from government in relation to services for young people which hasn't historically been articulated.'

Youth services' delicate balancing act

Kathryn Morley, chief executive of the charity OnSide Youth Zones, calls on all sectors to rally together to ensure the future of youth services

Our research demonstrates the tough choices local authorities face when it comes to balancing the current and future needs of their communities.

It is clear senior decision-makers appreciate the role universal youth services play in prevention, but the harsh reality of funding constraints means it isn't always seen as a strategic priority. The immediate effect of this appears to be on the level of provision, as well as its quality.

There is a shared concern around the impact a lack of access to activities will have on young people's health, aspiration, antisocial behaviour and drugs or alcohol misuse.

Longer-term we must ask what prolonged under-investment will do to future generations and how much additional pressure will be placed on the public purse if we store up problems and rely on costly interventions to resolve them. So how bold and brave are decision-makers willing to be to address this now?

Interestingly, there is a divergence of opinion about what role local authorities will play in universal youth services, what innovations they may adopt and what barriers might hold them back. Perhaps this uncertainty is what is driving demand for a more cohesive UK-wide vision and strategy, something which our charity very much supports.

Much more work needs to be done to develop robust funding, delivery and governance frameworks that support the successful adoption of innovative models.

Our vision is that the combined expertise and funding of the public, private and voluntary sectors can ensure high-quality universal youth service provision is delivered at scale. We mustn't stall in this endeavour. Stakeholders need to coalesce around the issue if we are to find the innovative, collaborative and effective solutions needed to support young people now and into the future.