The artist has donated the entirety of his £25,000 award winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp won the prize in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician she split her prize among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
