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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.

He was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

He also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The money helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from performances in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has said.

The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.

During 2002, musician she split her award across a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.

Previously, the band donated their prize money to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.

And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.