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The star has donated the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the UK's small music venues.

The star was awarded the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The donation assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

He is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

When Pulp won the prize in 1996 for their album the album, frontman Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.

That year, artist the artist divided her award among a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.

Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had saved several local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.