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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The concept that money from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.

Fender is among several artists to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.

Back when they won the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her prize among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally winners that year they donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.