Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The concept that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, artist she divided her bounty across several charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was ample," said singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
