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The star has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's independent music venues.

The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The money helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.

When the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker stated that the band would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

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

"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.