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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.

The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the previous year.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

He also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The money helped venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.

"The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.

In the band won the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist shared her prize across multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she explained to the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.

"The victory was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.

The first in the city and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.