Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's small live music spots.
The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In they earned the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer the singer declared that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
