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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The notion that money from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty across several good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.

Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.