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The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.

The star was given the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.

The donation helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted artists and fans.

"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

Back when the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.

"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.