Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
When they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician she shared her prize across several good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
