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The artist has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces received monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

When Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her prize across a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.

Previously, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT announced it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.