Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
These funds assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would donate their prize money to the charity the charity.
During 2002, musician she shared her bounty among several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to the media.
Previously, they donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
