The artist has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.
These funds supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
Previously, they gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
