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The star has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.

He was given the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, musician the artist split her award among multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected two small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.