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The artist has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations received monetary aid in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.

"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to give his award winnings to worthy causes.

In Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize across several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.

In recent years, the band gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

And winners that year the group gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.