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The star has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.

He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.

These funds helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

The musician is among several artists to give his award prize money to worthy causes.

Back when the band won the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, musician the artist split her award across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist told the media.

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

And winners that year the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.