The artist has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.
In they received the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Cocker declared that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist split her prize among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.
In recent years, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected two local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
