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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which works to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.

Back when the band won the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer the singer declared that the band would give their prize money to the charity the charity.

That year, musician she divided her award among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.

In recent years, they gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.