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The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.

These funds helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations received monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.

When they won the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize across multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist told the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the community center that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the trust revealed it had protected two small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.