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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

He also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues received funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

In they received the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, artist she shared her prize across a few charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.

Previously, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

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

Last week, the MVT shared it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.