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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

He was given the award on mid-October as his new release 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 crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The concept that money from performances in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

In Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician she shared her prize between a few charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had protected several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.