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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The concept that money from performances in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

When the band won the prize in 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she explained to outlets.

In recent years, they gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."

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

The first in the city and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.