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The artist has given the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The concept that money from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer the singer stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist shared her award among a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," she shared with the media.

Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners the group gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in that area and the second in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.