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Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's small live music spots.

The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was named the best record of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The notion that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor prize money to good deeds.

In the band earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her award between a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Previously, they gave their winnings to the community center that developed their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.