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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

These funds helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The idea that money from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his award funds to good deeds.

When they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician the artist split her bounty across a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.

Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.