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The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.

The money helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped musicians and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

Fender is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

When the band earned the prize in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the band would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to the media.

Previously, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally winners that year they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.