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The star has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's small music venues.

He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.

The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.

These funds supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to contribute his award funds to good deeds.

Back when Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her award between several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.