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The artist has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The money supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.

"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor prize money to good deeds.

Back when the band earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners they contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued several local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The first in the city and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.