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The star has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.

Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.

These funds helped venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

He is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.

When they earned the award in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty among several charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the buildings.