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The star has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's independent live music spots.

The star was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

The money supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

Back when the band won the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty between a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," she shared with outlets.

Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.

"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.