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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

He was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues received funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band won the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, frontman the singer stated that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize between multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Also winners that year M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the properties.