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Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's small live music spots.

He was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and fans.

"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer she split her award across a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," she shared with a publication.

Previously, they donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.