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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's independent music venues.

He was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album the album was named the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.

"The idea that money from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

In Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her award across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.

Previously, the band contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally winners that year M People donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.