The artist has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's independent music venues.
Fender was given the prize on mid-October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her prize among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
In recent years, they donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.
The first in that area and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
