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Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the UK's small concert spaces.

He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The money helped venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations received monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that helped artists and fans.

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

Fender is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician she divided her award across several organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And winners that year they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.