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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to save the UK's independent concert spaces.

The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation supported venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize among several organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she told outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Also winners that year they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," said artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.