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The star has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was named the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his early career.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.

The money assisted venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations received funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.

"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

He is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

When the band received the award in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she shared her bounty across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.

And winners that year M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.