Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to help 38 local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she shared her award among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," she told a publication.
Previously, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
