The artist has given the full amount of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career 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 locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
That year, rapper and singer the artist split her prize across a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
