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The artist has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Some locations received funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.

When they received the trophy in 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her prize among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of small stages in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

One venue in the city and the other in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.