🔗 Share this article

The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's independent live music spots.

The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

He also took part, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.

The donation helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

When the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer announced that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her prize between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."

Recently, the trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.