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The star has handed over the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.

"The notion that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

He is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist shared her bounty across multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.