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Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.

The money assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

He is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her prize across a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

And winners that year they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.