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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.

He was given the award on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.

In the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist shared her prize across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.