The artist has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was given the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty among multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.
