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The artist has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's small music venues.

The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.

When the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist shared her prize between multiple organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist told the media.

Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in the city and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.