The star has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the UK's small concert spaces.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer announced that the group would donate their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician the artist split her bounty between a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
