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The star has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.

The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

He is far from the only musician to give his award funds to good deeds.

In the band received the award in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her award between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The first in that area and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.