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The artist has given the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.

The donation helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

He is far from the only musician to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, frontman Cocker announced that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she divided her bounty across a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she told a publication.

Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the community center that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," said singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.