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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots live music spots.

He was awarded the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across the UK.

The donation helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues received funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The notion that funds from performances in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

Fender is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the venues.