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The star has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his new release the album was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The donation assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The notion that money from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when they earned the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Cocker stated that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between a few charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The first in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the properties.