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The artist has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the UK's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

In the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize between multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

In recent years, they donated their winnings to the community center that developed their group, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT announced it had saved several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.