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The star has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that helped performers and fans.

"The concept that funds from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

When they received the award in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she divided her bounty between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.

In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The first in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.