The star has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the award on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
When they received the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the band would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, musician she shared her bounty among several organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist told the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Winning was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
