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The star has given the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots had in his initial steps.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, frontman the singer announced that the group would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.

That year, artist the artist split her prize among several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she explained to a publication.

Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the community center that supported their band, as well as other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."

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

The first in the city and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.