Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award between multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.
Previously, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
