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Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.

He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The money helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The concept that money from performances in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.

When the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her award among several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told a publication.

Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the disease.

"Winning was ample," stated singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in that area and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.