Brent Council has embarked on a 12-month programme to turnaround its youth service after Ofsted branded it "inadequate".

A report by the inspectorate issued last week said the service was under-funded and much of its youth work lacked structure. The north London council was also criticised for not investing enough in youth worker training.

In response to the findings, the council has added an additional 100,000 to the service's 1.6m 2005-06 budget and formed an improvement team to carry out Ofsted's recommendations and turn things around by March 2006.

Brent plans to ensure all youth workers complete Brunel University's Foundation Youth and Community course and the council will appoint a quality assurance officer to monitor the service's standards. The Roundwood and Granville youth centres will also be refurbished.

Labour councillor Michael Lyon, Brent's lead member for education, arts and libraries, said: "We want to give young people in the area the best possible services. We are optimistic that we can adopt good practices more widely and address the issues that have been raised."

www.ofsted.gov.uk.