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The star has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album the album was named the best record of the previous year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

He is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer the singer announced that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.