The artist has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's small live music spots.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty among a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust announced it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
