A survey carried out by The National Youth Agency examining where the 47 local authority youth services in England fit into children's trusts has uncovered a mixed situation regionally.

YES: Peter Read, head of youth service, the Borough of Poole

I've just been seconded to head up the development of local services as we move towards children's trusts in Poole, with the youth service being central to a number of developments, so youth services certainly aren't being left out here.

But on a national basis it is happening. There has been no recognition of the youth service's contribution to some of the performance indicators that would favour the service's involvement in children's trusts.

There is a lot that youth services do, particularly around young people's contribution to society, enjoying and achieving, and staying safe. Youth services need to be much sharper on some of their performance indicators in terms of their delivery of work. That is part of the youth service's problem - it shies away from performance indicators. The youth service needs to demonstrate much more of what it does with young people, and its contribution to national objectives.

NO: David Hudson, principal youth services manager, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

It's not a resounding no, because we could be more involved, but we've certainly had quite a bit of involvement with the officer who has been leading on children's services within the children's trust, and we've had quite a bit of discussion with them about youth work-related elements.

I suppose the biggest link that we've had is through our voice and influence strand. Barnsley has had an elected youth council for more than two years, and it is regularly consulted on a wide range of issues, including the development of children's services and children's trusts. The youth council is predominantly supported by the youth service, although it is independent.

We have done quite a bit really. There is a bit of a communication breakdown because, in terms of the executive body, you don't hear about things first hand if you are not at that table. But that is just one issue; the work on the ground is, by and large, being done.

NO: Jane Hurst, head of play, youth and community services, London Borough of Sutton

Absolutely not here, but, of course, we are only a pathfinder trust for children and young people with disabilities. We are not a complete children's trust per se, but there wouldn't be any difference whatever kind of children's trust we were.

One reason we haven't been left out is because we've always worked in very close partnership with every agency you can think of that might have something to do with children and young people. So we're often seen as a partner of first choice, particularly in working with vulnerable children and young people, irrespective of trust status.

So in a sense for us it is not really a new way of working, whereas I know that for other local authorities it might provide challenges. My key message for any youth service would be to continue to build up your partnership working with other agencies, especially in relation to work with vulnerable young people. If this is robust and valued, children's trusts will automatically include youth services in a positive way.

NO: Don Irving, head of Newcastle Play and Youth Service, Newcastle City Council

We are fortunate in Newcastle because not only do we have a children's trust, we also have a children and young people's strategic partnership. We have a place on its board and we have close links with the children's trust board.

Although we don't sit on the trust's board, we keep each other informed of progress. We have just appointed an executive director of children's services, who is taking up the post at the beginning of April. This is a major development in Newcastle. In many ways we are waiting to see how she approaches the whole notion of bringing the services together and what that means. Do we physically move closer together or do we stay were we are and develop integrated services through multi-agency forums and boards? It is an exciting time here in Newcastle and there is a genuine commitment among partner agencies to working together creatively.