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The star has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's independent live music spots.

He was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

When they won the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her award between multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also winners that year they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.