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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the trust for venues, which works to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, musician she divided her award across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist told outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.