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The artist has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

He was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.

He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.

In they earned the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her prize across several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she told the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved two local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.