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Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The money helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist divided her prize between a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist told the media.

Two years ago, they gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.

One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.