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The star has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's small live music spots.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.

"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

He is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

When Pulp won the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman the singer announced that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize among several good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," she shared with a publication.

Two years ago, they gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.