A new plan for youth service provision has been launched in Hampshire - despite a potential funding crisis.

Hampshire Youth Service is committed to increasing activities and retaining staff - but it's short of money.

Assistant county education officer, John Wilkinson, highlighted the funding shortfall at the launch of their strategic plan for 2003-2006.

He said: "The budgets do not look good for 2002/2003, so we'll have to use resources carefully and look for additional funding wherever we can."

County youth officer, Malcolm Rittman, said they received funding from government grants, local authorities, youth offending teams and community safety partners.

He said additional funding may come from charities such as Barnardo's, along with a new government scheme called the Children's Fund, which begins in April 2003.

The service employs 508 staff across Hampshire on 164 projects. Wages account for 80% of the department's annual expenditure.

Mr Rittman feels it is vital that the service recruits new staff, and retains current workers.

The service deals with 11 to 24-year-olds, though 80% of funding is directed at youngsters between the ages of 13 and 19.

The 2003-2006 strategic plan seeks to promote healthy lifestyles for young people, develop their personal and social skills, promote social inclusion, encourage ambition and high aspirations, and increase awareness towards democracy and decision-making.

Carol Leversha, who chairs the county council youth panel, said: "The new plan is challenging but I have every faith in the people who run the youth projects - they work so hard and do so much."