Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
He also joined in, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the group would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist she split her award among several charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.
Also winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.