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The star has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's small live music spots.

Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

These funds supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

The musician is among several artists to give his award prize money to good deeds.

In the band received the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she told outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the community center that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.