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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.

He was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The notion that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

In they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty across a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she explained to outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.