The artist contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to independent concert halls

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the best record of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

These funds helped locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

The musician is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band won the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer declared that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, musician the artist divided her award between several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.