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The star has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's small music venues.

He was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.

Fender is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to good deeds.

Back when the band won the prize in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.

In 2002, musician she divided her award across a few charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

In recent years, they contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"Winning was ample," stated singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT shared it had protected two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.