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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.

The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The money supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The notion that money from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.

When Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity the charity.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the community center that nurtured their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.