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The star has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.

He was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.

The money supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.

Back when Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist shared her award across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she shared with a publication.

Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.