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The star has donated the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was given the award on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

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

Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The money supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

When Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.

In 2002, artist she divided her prize across several charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the trust shared it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.