Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
The star was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the prize in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty among a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she explained to a publication.
Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had protected two small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.