Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she split her prize across several charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.
