The artist has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
In Pulp received the award in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, musician the artist split her award among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
