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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that money from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

The musician is among several artists to give his award funds to worthy causes.

When Pulp received the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she shared with outlets.

In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the community center that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.