Romsey Youth Council will honour two sisters and a teenage special needs volunteer group next Thursday.

Dawn and Sabrina Ward work for the Befrienders Service and the Bell Street-based youth council is paying tribute to the work the young sisters do for the Young Carers Project in

Romsey, during a special event - Youth Conference Speak Out Be Heard- at the town hall starting at 6.30pm.

Support worker with Romsey Youth Council Wendy Herbert, said: "These are just two young sisters who volunteer their services all over the place. They just get on and do things. They are marvellous. Dawn and Sabrina are mentors for young carers."

Wendy said Dawn and Sabrina, who live in Romsey spend time talking, listening to and befriending other young people who care for family members.

They also help with children's homework and discuss teenage matters, added Wendy. She said: "Their services are invaluable to the young people they help."

Both Dawn and Sabrina help out at a Saturday club for young carers and during the holidays join them on outings. They also help out at Romsey's Oxfam charity shop and at Romsey Show. And during the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal they managed to fill 17 shoeboxes for the needy in third world countries.

Youth Council members will also recognise the services of another nine youngsters from the special needs youth group - The Allsorts Club, based at Romsey School's youth centre.

They include Ellie Tudball, Kaylie Parker, Amelie Shepherd, Danny Allen, Claire Anderson, Kirsty William, Beth Rhodes, Lucy and Anna.Sherwood.

"They give up their time each week to make sure that those who attend the club have a really great time, " said Wendy.

"They not only enable them to take part in activities such as pool, table tennis, outdoor sports, games, art and aerobics, they are also their friends and spend time talking about teenage thing. Allsorts would not work without them.

The Youth Conference Speak Out Be Heard promises to the best-ever event to-date.

"It will act as an opportunity for young people to ask questions to a panel of esteemed professionals from legal, medical and political backgrounds. In addition other young people, who have made voluntary contributions to the society will be recognised," said Wendy.

Romsey Youth Council - a voluntary organisation with over 15 members aged 11-18 - focuses on staging events for people in the town and members do not necessarily need an interest in politics. But the youth council's views are often taken into consideration when parish councils and the borough council make decisions concerning the youth of Romsey and district. The youth council holds monthly meetings and Wendy said new members werealways welcome.

Each year the youth council stages a football tournament at Mountbatten School and last year's was its most successful yet.

Other activities the group is involved in include band nights and during the town's Christmas late-night shopping event the council holds drop-in sessions at the Youth in Romsey base in Bell Street.