The star has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
When they won the prize in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her award between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust announced it had saved several local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
