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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was given the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.

When the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

That year, rapper and singer the artist split her prize between several charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

In recent years, they donated their prize money to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several small stages in south-east England, 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 funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the properties.