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The star has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations received monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

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

In the band received the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her award among a few good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.

"Winning was ample," stated artist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in that area and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.