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The star has given the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.

The money helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The notion that money from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

He is among several artists to give his honor funds to good deeds.

When the band received the award in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, musician she divided her prize between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," she told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.