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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.

These funds assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band won the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

In 2002, musician the artist divided her bounty between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had saved two local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in that area and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.