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The artist has given the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 local spots across the UK.

These funds supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations received monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

In Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, artist the artist split her bounty across multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the properties.