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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the Britain's independent music venues.

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

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

When they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty between several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.