Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The money helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her prize between a few good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
