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The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations received financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.

"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.

Fender is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize among multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist told outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"The victory was ample," said artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.