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The star has donated the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The concept that revenue from shows in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their release their work, frontman Cocker declared that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her award between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with the media.

Two years ago, the band donated their prize money to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.