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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The donation helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer the singer announced that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her award among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.