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The star has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.

Fender was given the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the top album of the past year.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.

These funds helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp won the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, artist the artist split her prize across several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she explained to the media.

In recent years, they gave their winnings to the community center that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

And winners that year the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was ample," said singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in that area and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.