Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
When they received the award in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her award across a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Previously, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
