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The star has given the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.

The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to support numerous small stages across the UK.

The donation helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

Fender is among several artists to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.

When the band received the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the band would donate their cash to the charity War Child.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite shared her prize between a few organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.