The artist contributes his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent music venues
The star has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was given the award on mid-October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the past year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when they won the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her award across a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in the city and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.