Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
These funds supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician she shared her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
