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The star has given the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's independent live music spots.

The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped musicians and fans.

"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

In they won the prize in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Cocker declared that the band would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two local spots in that region, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.