Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
Back when they received the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer the singer announced that the act would give their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she shared with the media.
Previously, they gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," said artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued several local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.
