Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous small stages across the UK.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
In they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award between several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
