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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

He also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when they earned the award in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.