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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.

"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.

In the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between a few organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

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

Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.