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The artist has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's independent music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and fans.

"The concept that money from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician she shared her award among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.