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The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

The star was given the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.

The money assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.

He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.

In they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she explained to outlets.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.