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Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's independent live music spots.

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

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.

These funds supported spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.

"The concept that money from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

That year, rapper and singer she divided her bounty across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the community center that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

And winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in the city and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.