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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album his work was named the top album of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and fans.

"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his award funds to good deeds.

When they received the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would give their winnings to the charity the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award among multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she explained to the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

And winners that year M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.