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The artist has given the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's small music venues.

The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

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

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across the UK.

The donation assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.

"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.

Back when they received the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would give their winnings to the charity the charity.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her prize among a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist explained to the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.