The musician contributes his £25k prize cash award to independent music venues
The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.
The money supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.