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The star has donated the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.

In Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.

That year, artist the artist shared her prize across several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," she explained to outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT announced it had saved two local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The first in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.