Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the UK's independent live music spots.
He was given the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The money helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
He is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.
