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Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.

These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.

"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

When Pulp received the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician she split her award between a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to a publication.

Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.

One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.