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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.

These funds helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that money from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.

Back when they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, vocalist the singer announced that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician she shared her prize between multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she shared with a publication.

Previously, they contributed their winnings to the community center that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.