Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist split her bounty among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told the media.
Previously, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other local music groups.
Also winners that year M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had saved two small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
