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The artist has given the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was named the top album of the past year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

He is not the first artist to give his honor funds to worthy causes.

In the band won the award in 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she told the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners they gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.

"Winning was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The first in that area and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.