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The star has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's small music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.

He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her prize among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.

In recent years, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," said artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.