Musician Sam Fender has donated his Mercury Prize winnings to a charity which acts to protect and improve UK grassroots music venues.

The singer from North Shields, who won the award for his third studio album, People Watching, has given £25,000 to Music Venue Trust (MVT) in recognition of the role grassroots venues played in his early career.

Fender, 31, said: “I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East , and beyond, when I was starting out.

“These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”

Sam Fender celebrates after he was announced as the overall winner of the 2025 Mercury Music Prize (Danny Lawson/PA) PA Wire

Fender won the prize in October in an award ceremony held in Newcastle, marking the first time the

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