The artist has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The money helped venues that were facing possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician she split her bounty among a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their funds to the community center that developed their group, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had protected several local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
