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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's small concert spaces.

The star was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

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

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

He also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

Back when the band won the award in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.