The artist has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her prize between multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
