The artist has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the past year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
He also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she told outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had protected several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
