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The star has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's small live music spots.

Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.

He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.

These funds helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The concept that money from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

He is not the first artist to give his award funds to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty among a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist explained to the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Also winners that year M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.