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Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor cash to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.

"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is among several artists to give his award prize money to worthy causes.

When they received the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize between several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told a publication.

Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.