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Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.

He was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the best record of the previous year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.

"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Also winners that year the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.