The star has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician she split her award among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
