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Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's small music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.

"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

He is among several artists to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, frontman Cocker stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.

In 2002, artist she split her prize among a few organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist told the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.