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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The concept that funds from performances in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is among several artists to give his honor funds to charitable organizations.

When they earned the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, artist she split her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist told a publication.

Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was ample," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The first in that area and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.