The musician contributes twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to grassroots live spaces

The singer accepting the award in the North East
He received the honor in October in his hometown

Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

The money assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

Pulp performing
The group are among the artists who gave their Mercury Prize funds to charity

He is among several artists to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album the album, frontman the singer announced that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, artist she divided her prize among several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"The victory was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.

Angela Smith
Angela Smith

A passionate architect and writer with over a decade of experience in sustainable home design and renovation projects.

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