Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
When Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Cocker declared that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.
In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had protected several small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
