🔗 Share this article Sam Fender gives his £25k prize award winnings to independent music venues He received the honor in October in the North East Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's small concert spaces. The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album the album was named the best record of the past year. He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps. "I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling." From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK. Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues. He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain. The money supported locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints. Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers. "The idea that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated. The group are one example who gave their award prize money to good causes He is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to worthy causes. When the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the charity the charity. In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her award among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell. "I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets. Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the community center that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations. Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease. "Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life." Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control. One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.