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The star has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's independent music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Cocker announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, musician she split her prize among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she told a publication.

Previously, they donated their winnings to the community center that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the venues.