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Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.

He was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.

"The concept that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

When they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician the artist divided her award among a few organizations, such as 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 younger and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally winners that year M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had saved several small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.