On this page, you will find all of the information you need for this year’s Youth Matters Awards.

Held at Chelsea Football Club on Friday 3 November, the evening will include a drinks reception, a three-course dinner, and awards ceremony hosted by comedian and Taskmaster favourite, Fern Brady.

Tickets are now available to purchase. Early bird options will run until 24 September, with general sale tickets released on 25 September. All ticket sales are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Meet your 2023 Youth Matters Awards Host!

Fern Brady

Featured in Vogue as one of the Top 5 Female Comedians, as well as the Telegraphs Top 5 Young Comedians to Watch, Scottish comedian Fern Brady’s career has gone stratospheric in the last couple of years.

Born and raised in Bathgate, West Lothian, she studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic and Islamic History. Fern originally trained to become a journalist, although she had been secretly harbouring desires to become a stand-up comedian since 2006.

Then in 2009, whilst working as an intern at Fest Magazine, a free magazine covering the Edinburgh Festival, one of her assignments was to write an article about a comedy critic trying stand-up. It was a serendipitous ‘shove in the right direction’ she needed, and her first professional gig as a stand up comedian was in May 2010.

She went on to reach the finals of “So You Think You’re Funny” at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe, where she was placed joint third. She then secured a place in the finals of the Piccadilly Comedy Club new act competition in 2012 and the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 2013.

From there, Fern’s career has gone from strength-to-strength, having appeared on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Alternative Comedy Experience, BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Russell Howard Hour, Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, and series 14 of Channel 4 staple, Taskmaster.

Earlier this year, Fern released her Sunday Times Bestseller memoir, Strong Female Character.

Thank you to our sponsors. Your support makes this event possible.

For questions or enquiries, please email youthmatters@ymca.org.uk