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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which works to save the Britain's small music venues.

The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

He also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money assisted spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.

When Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told a publication.

Two years ago, they gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had saved several local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.