Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In they received the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer announced that the group would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award among several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.
