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The artist has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.

He was awarded the award on October 16 as his third album the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to support 38 small stages across the UK.

These funds supported venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.

Back when they won the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist she divided her prize among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."

Recently, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.