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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.

The donation assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among several organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told the media.

Previously, the band gave their funds to the community center that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.

And winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.