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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

These funds supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The idea that money from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.

He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty across several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.