The artist has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist told a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued two local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in that area and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
