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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's small music venues.

The star was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the previous year.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.

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

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

When Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman Cocker stated that the group would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told outlets.

Two years ago, they gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.