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The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.

The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The concept that money from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched the lives of others."

Recently, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in the city and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.