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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% 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 aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.

Back when the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist the singer declared that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty across several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The first in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.