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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's independent live music spots.

He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The concept that funds from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

He is among several artists to give his honor funds to good deeds.

When they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist she split her bounty across multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Winning was ample," said vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.