Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize among several organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
