The artist has donated the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
Back when they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty across a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
