The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
He is far from the only musician to donate his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer the artist split her award between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," she told outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," said singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.
