Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman the singer declared that the group would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award among multiple organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was ample," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved several small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
