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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

He was given the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.

The money helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that helped artists and fans.

"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

When the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician she divided her award among multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she shared with the media.

In recent years, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra 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 trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.