The artist donates twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to independent live spaces

The star has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's independent music venues.

The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was named the top album of the past year.

He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally wouldn't be doing 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 starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to good deeds.

When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

That year, artist the artist divided her bounty across several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust announced it had saved several local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.