Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that helped artists and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When they earned the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she split her award among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
