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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the past year.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.

The donation assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman Cocker announced that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize across multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Previously, they donated their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked 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 impacted another person's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected several small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.