Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In they won the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the community center that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT announced it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
