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The star has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the UK's small live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the best record of the past year.

He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

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

Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

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

In they won the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, musician the artist split her award among several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with the media.

Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.