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The star has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's independent live music spots.

Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.

He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also took part, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The concept that funds from shows in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

The musician is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to good deeds.

Back when the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.

That year, musician she split her prize between several charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"The victory was ample," said artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.