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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots music venues.

Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

He also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp won the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer the singer declared that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist explained to the media.

In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.