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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the UK's grassroots music venues.

The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

He also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

He is not the first artist to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.

In the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty across several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"The victory was ample," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.