🔗 Share this article The artist gives twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots concert halls Sam Fender won the Mercury Prize recently in the North East The star has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces. The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the top album of the last 12 months. Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages played in his early career. "I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty." From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector. Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues. He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across Britain. These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues. Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers. "The concept that money from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented. Pulp are among the artists who gave their honor winnings to good causes He is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations. When they won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the charity War Child. During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization. "Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with outlets. Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the community center that supported their act, alongside other local music groups. And the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the condition. "Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life." In the past week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship. The first in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.