The artist gives twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots music venues

The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

He also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations received monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.

"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

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

When Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist the singer declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize across a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Previously, they donated their winnings to the community center that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners they gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had saved two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.