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The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

He was awarded the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across Britain.

The donation supported locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her award between a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," she shared with the media.

Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year the group donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.