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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.

He was given the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.

He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

Back when they won the prize in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the group would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.

That year, artist she divided her award among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she explained to a publication.

In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," stated singer Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.