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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.

He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages had in his early career.

"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

When the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And winners that year the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.