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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's small music venues.

The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

These funds assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist split her prize between multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had saved two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.