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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

He was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that money from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.

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

When Pulp received the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the charity the charity.

In 2002, artist she split her prize among several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year M People donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.