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The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across the UK.

The money assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that money from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.

In the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her award between several good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the venues.