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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.

The money supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues received financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that money from concerts in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The musician is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician she split her award among several charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.

Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.