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The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the UK's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

He is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer stated that the band would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

In recent years, they gave their winnings to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued two small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.