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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their release their work, lead singer the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the organization War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist split her award across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.

In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.