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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's small concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.

He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

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

Back when Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer the singer stated that the act would donate their prize money to the organization the charity.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," she shared with the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year they donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.