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The star has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the Britain's independent music venues.

He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages played in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.

The donation assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from performances in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.

That year, artist she shared her prize across multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," she told the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.