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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the previous year.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

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

In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.

In Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman the singer announced that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, artist she split her bounty among multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.