Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's small music venues.
The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her award among a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
