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The star has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The money helped venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

He is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when they received the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty among multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.

In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The first in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.