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The artist has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.

The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The idea that funds from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her prize among multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.