Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The money supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
He is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
