Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's independent live music spots.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots 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 area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they won the prize in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist split her prize across several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
