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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's small live music spots.

He was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The concept that money from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Fender is among several artists to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

When the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.