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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's small live music spots.

Fender was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was named the top album of the past year.

He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.

These funds helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.

In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist told a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.