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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.

Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation helped venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.

"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the charity War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize among a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.

Also winners that year M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.