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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was given the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.

The money assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty between multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the community center that developed their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.