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The star has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's independent concert spaces.

The star was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.

These funds helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.

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

The musician is not the first artist to give his award funds to charitable organizations.

In the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, 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 small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.