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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the Britain's independent live music spots.

The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.

The money helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

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

When they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist split her award across several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.

"The victory was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had protected several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.