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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that helped musicians and fans.

"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty among several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she shared with the media.

Previously, the band donated their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Winning was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT announced it had protected several small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.