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The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the past year.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The idea that funds from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across several organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she shared with outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was ample," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued several small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.