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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the Britain's small live music spots.

He was given the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the best record of the past year.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also took part, raising over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The money assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

Back when the band earned the prize in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist the singer declared that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician she split her bounty across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the properties.