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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

He was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots had in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.

Back when they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, musician she shared her prize between multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told outlets.

Previously, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.

And 1994 winners M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.