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The artist has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.

He was awarded the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

He is among several artists to give his honor winnings to good deeds.

Back when the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Recently, the trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

The first in that area and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.