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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the best record of the past year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The donation helped locations that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician the artist divided her award across multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she explained to outlets.

Previously, the band donated their prize money to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."

Last week, the MVT announced it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.