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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the Britain's independent music venues.

He was given the award on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the past year.

He has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The money supported locations that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to good deeds.

In they earned the trophy in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year they gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.