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The artist has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the previous year.

He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.

"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

In Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.

Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.

"Winning was ample," stated singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.