Government's youth policy 'lacks bite', claims Catch22

But she raised question marks over the policy's ability to bring about improvements in youth services.

"The levers for change in the policy itself are few and most lack bite – perhaps not surprising from a government keen to stress the limitations of what can be achieved from Whitehall," she said.

"If the statement is to be a genuine springboard for change, all those who want to make it happen will need to work together to turn the statement into a mass movement to which employers, local authorities, the media and others can sign up, giving meaning and momentum to the statement through their actions.

Chadwick said the "shared vision" must involve placing young people at the heart of service design and delivery, engaging the whole of society in helping young people to achieve their full potential and placing high value on building strong relationships of mutual respect and trust.

She has also called for persistence in reaching and supporting young people who need most help and said that young people want opportunities to be available in an integrated fashion.

"In practice this means breaking down the professional silos, which can lead to costly duplication, and which get in the way of integration," she said. "Let’s hope that the promised Youth Innovation Zones can blaze a trail for this wholesale systems change."

Chadwick’s concerns over the extent to which the policy paper will effect change was echoed by Maggie Atkinson, children’s commissioner for England, who has challenged the government to back it with action.

"Without action this strategy will amount to no more than words on a page," she said. "The true success of this new approach will be measured by our young people. They are now empowered by the government to take Positive for Youth to their local and national politicians to open up an honest dialogue about their communities and their stake in them."

The chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people programme board, David Simmonds has also raised concerns about the ability to redesign services in an environment of cuts.

"Council funding has been cut by 28 per cent over four years so finding alternative methods of delivering services is key to making sure there continues to be a high quality offer to young people," he said.

 "Councils are already moving towards a mixed economy of local authority, voluntary and private sector organisations delivering services for young people.

"There is a real opportunity, born of necessity, to implement considerable service redesign over the coming years, although the front-loaded nature of cuts to council budgets makes this more challenging."