Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their prize money to the organization the charity.
That year, artist the artist shared her bounty between a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
