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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the UK's independent music venues.

He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

When they won the award in 1996 for their release their work, frontman the singer stated that the band would give their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist told a publication.

In recent years, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was ample," stated artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.