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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's small music venues.

Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The money helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

He is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.

In the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.