The artist has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.
In the band won the prize in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her prize across several good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
