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The artist has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues obtained funding support in improving facilities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.

When Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Previously, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.