Eccles, Leitholm & Birgham celebrate first award from new community fund backed by Zenobē
The newly launched Eccles, Leitholm & Birgham Community Fund has made its first award of £2,000 to support the 2026 Village Floral Display Project.
The initiative will bring together volunteers from across the three villages to deliver vibrant floral displays for summer 2026, with funding covering flowers and compost.
The Fund is made possible through an annual community benefit contribution from Zenobē, owners of the Eccles Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), currently under construction in the Scottish Borders. Zenobē launched the fund once on-site construction started, reflecting its commitment to early and meaningful engagement with local communities.
Viki McCormick, Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager at Zenobē, said:
We're pleased to see the Eccles, Leitholm & Birgham Community Fund make its first award. At Eccles, we made the decision to begin community investment early as we wanted to build strong local relationships from the outset. The Fund has been developed in close collaboration with the Community Council to ensure it reflects local priorities and delivers meaningful impact. The Village Floral Display Project is a fantastic first step—bringing volunteers together across the three villages to enhance shared spaces and strengthen community connections.
The Fund will focus on supporting projects that directly address local priorities identified in a Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham Community Led Plan. The plan was created by a dedicated Community Council Steering Group, following extensive community consultation and engagement across all three villages, ensuring it truly reflected local aspirations. With an annual community benefit contribution from Zenobē, the Community Council is ensuring the funding is used to deliver long-term impact that residents want. The Steering Group, made up of representatives from the Community Council, will determine where to target funding, working directly with local groups to co-produce initiatives and commission services to help the community achieve its goals.
Bob Hope, Chair for Eccles, Leitholm & Birgham Community Council said:
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Community Fund and our first award. The Village Floral Display Project perfectly demonstrates how we can work together across our three villages to create places we're proud to call home. This funding will enable our dedicated volunteers to continue enhancing our villages while building the social connections that make rural communities thrive. We are pleased to be working with Zenobē, whose early investment has helped us get this Fund off to a strong start, and look forward to supporting many more projects that deliver on the priorities our residents have identified.
Thanks to the Fund, residents can look forward to seeing new initiatives coming forward to further build the community’s pride of place, make community life more inclusive, and improve health and wellbeing. Ultimately, all the activities funded will tackle the risks of rural isolation through collaborative community work. All projects funded through this initiative will directly benefit residents living within the Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Council area, ensuring that investment decisions are made by the community, for the community.
Niome Lucjan, Community Funds Advisor, Foundation Scotland, said:
As Fund Administrator, Foundation Scotland is pleased to support the Eccles, Leitholm & Birgham Community Fund. This proactive, community-led approach represents best practice in ensuring resources truly meet local needs. By focusing on priorities identified through genuine consultation, the Fund is well-positioned to deliver meaningful, lasting impact for these rural communities.
You can find out more about the Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Fund on the Fund Page