The artist has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told the media.
In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
