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The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent live music spots.

The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his early career.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

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

Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

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

"The idea that money from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

Fender is among several artists to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.

When Pulp won the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would donate their prize money to the charity the charity.

That year, artist she shared her award between several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The first in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.