The musician donates twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to independent music venues

Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

He was given the award on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.

The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.

Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.

When the band won the prize in 1996 for their release their work, frontman the singer stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician the artist divided her award between several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.