Numbers game Young People's Fund

In an official response to the children's green paper, Every Child Matters, 859 young women and 632 young men said they would like to see money invested in sport and leisures activities when asked how money from the Government's Young People's Fund should be spent. Second on their list was more spending on youth clubs.

Sport also came top when asked what services they would like to see provided by schools apart from education. Social events also fared well, with 584 young men and 332 young women believing more such activities should be offered where they study.

The consultation received 3,137 responses and asked a range of questions from how young people should have a say in local affairs to what was the best way for the Government to help families at difficult times. Teenagers were allowed to give more than one answer or not respond. The answers were used to decide what went into the children bill and Every Child Matters: Next Steps, the follow-up to the green paper.