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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's independent concert spaces.

He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.

When they received the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her award across a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.

Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.

And 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.