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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's small live music spots.

He was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the previous year.

He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

He is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when the band won the award in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist divided her bounty among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.

In recent years, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had saved several small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.