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The star has given the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that money from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.

Back when the band won the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the act would donate their cash to the organization War Child.

That year, rapper and singer she split her bounty across several organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved several local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The first in the city and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the venues.