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The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

These funds assisted locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped musicians and audiences.

"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to give his award prize money to good deeds.

In Pulp won the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her award between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

Recently, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.