The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the award on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across the UK.
The money supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to good deeds.
In Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty across several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, they donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into local control.
The first in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
