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The star has given the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's small music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.

These funds supported venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The idea that money from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.

Back when the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize across several organizations, like the children's charity 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 new equipment," she shared with a publication.

In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved two local spots in that region, by placing them under local control.

The first in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.