YOUTH councils are fundamental if young people are to have a say on issues that matter in their communities - that is the message from Harpenden Mayor Rosemary Farmer.

As the future of St Albans Youth Council was thrown into doubt over a funding crisis last week, councillor Farmer contacted the Review to stress the importance of young people's organisations in our district.

Offering her full support to the Review's KiDs Campaign, which aims to honour the achievements of young people in the area, she said: "Harpenden Town Council set up Harpenden Youth Town Council in 1998 with the support of Hertfordshire County Council's Youth Services, now Youth Connexions.

"The town council very strongly supports the youth council and we are very proud of it - they have achieved a great deal.

"In the past ten years, the youth council has been instrumental in the installation of the skate park in Rothamsted Park, has raised hundreds of pounds for local charities, implemented personal safety projects for local young people and will be organising the refurbishment of the pedestrian tunnel in Station Road.

"For the past four years, St Albans and Harpenden Youth Councils have worked in partnership to put on Summer Sounds which has given the opportunity to dozens of local bands and artists to perform in the open air to more than 3,000 people.

"We certainly look to continue working very closely with them. Eventually we would hope to be able to provide better youth facilities in town for them."

County councillor for Redbourn Maxine Crawley is championing Redbourn Youth Council, hoping to expand its team of six by welcoming new recruits.

She said: "It's a chance for young people to have fun and make a difference in Redbourn."