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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.

The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to good deeds.

In they won the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty between several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, the band donated their prize money to the community center that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.