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The star has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that money from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she split her bounty between multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," she explained to a publication.

Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was ample," remarked singer Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The first in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.