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The star has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

He also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received funding support in improving amenities and gear that helped performers and audiences.

"The notion that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize across a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist shared with a publication.

In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year the group gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.

"Winning was ample," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."

Last week, the trust shared it had protected several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.