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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

He was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to good deeds.

In Pulp won the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the charity the charity.

That year, artist she split her bounty among several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist told the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.

Also winners that year the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.