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The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.

He was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing facilities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.

"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

When they earned the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize across several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Previously, they contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.

"The victory was ample," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.