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The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that money from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

Fender is far from the only musician to give his award winnings to worthy causes.

Back when they won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her prize among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

In recent years, the band gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The first in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.