The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was given the award on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his award prize money to good deeds.
When they won the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she split her prize among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
