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The artist has given the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.

These funds helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and fans.

"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.

When Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told the media.

Two years ago, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.

One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.