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The star has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.

Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

Back when the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician she split her bounty between several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," said singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.