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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.

He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

He is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

In the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award between a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," stated singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.