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The star has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

Fender was given the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.

The musician is among several artists to give his honor funds to worthy causes.

Back when the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their record the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award among several charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the community center that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected two small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.