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The star has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's independent music venues.

The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is among several artists to donate his award winnings to good deeds.

When Pulp received the award in 1996 for their album their work, frontman the singer stated that the band would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.

During 2002, artist she divided her award across a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their band, as well as other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.