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The artist has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.

These funds helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

When the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she shared with outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust shared it had rescued two small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.