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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.

The money assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band received the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician she shared her award across several charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist told a publication.

In recent years, they gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year the group gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.