Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
When the band received the award in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her prize among a few charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
