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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.

The star was given the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The money assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.

Fender is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

When Pulp won the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.