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The star has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The notion that money from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.

In Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty across several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.

Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the community center that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The first in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.