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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

He was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

These funds assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

He is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

When they won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist divided her award between multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the properties.