Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the community center that developed their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Winning was ample," stated vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.
