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The artist has given the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.

The star was given the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped musicians and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

He is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, frontman Cocker declared that the band would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

In recent years, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners they donated their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Winning was quite enough," said singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the trust announced it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.