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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.

The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the past year.

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.

"The notion that money from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band won the award in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist the singer declared that the band would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between a few organizations, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist told a publication.

Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in that area and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.