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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when they received the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.

In 2002, musician she shared her bounty across several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she shared with outlets.

Previously, they donated their funds to the community center that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year M People donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.