The amount of money local authorities spend on youth services has increased by five point six per cent, according to The National Youth Agency's ninth annual audit.

Local Authority Youth Services Annual Audit - 2004-2005 - The Basic Facts, published on The National Youth Agency web site, reveals an average spend per head of the 13 to 19 population of 75, up from 71 in 2003-04 but below the 100 per head proposed in the Department for Education and Skills' 2002 publication Resourcing Excellent Youth Services.

The audit also shows 26 per cent of total youth work spend coming from sources other than the Education Formula Spending allocated by central government. This is slightly down from 28 per cent in 2003-04 but nearly six times the amount in 1996-97. The average local authority contacted 26 per cent of 13- to 19-year-olds, up from 23.5 per cent in 2003-04.

The Government benchmark is 25 per cent.

Tom Wylie, chief executive of The National Youth Agency, said: "It is good that services are reaching more young people and the trend in spending continues to show a rise. It is important that this trend is sustained."

www.nya.org.uk.