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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.

The donation assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

In the band received the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist she divided her award among multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told a publication.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Winning was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.