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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and gear that helped artists and audiences.

"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

Back when they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she shared her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.