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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.

He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.

Back when the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her bounty across several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"The victory was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.