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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

These funds helped venues that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The idea that money from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to worthy causes.

In Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize among a few charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.

Previously, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was ample," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the venues.