Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
Back when they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician she divided her bounty between several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had protected several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
