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The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.

He was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the top album of the past year.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The money assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band earned the award in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer declared that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, artist the artist split her award between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.