Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer announced that the act would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician she split her bounty between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
