Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that helped artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist she split her prize among a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Winning was ample," stated artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
