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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to give his award funds to worthy causes.

When they earned the award in 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her prize among a few organizations, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"Winning was ample," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

The first in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.