Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was given the award on mid-October as his new release the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped musicians and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer the singer announced that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician the artist divided her bounty between a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
