Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Benefit Fund

About this fund

The Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Benefit Fund will be used in a targeted way to develop projects that align with, and enable achievement of, priorities laid out within the Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham Community Led Plan (CLP).  A Community Council Steering Group (made up of local residents) will use targeted grantmaking, co-production and/or commissioning approaches to achieve this.  All projects will benefit those living in the Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Council area.

The fund began in 2025 and receives an annual contribution from Zenobe, the owners of the Eccles Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located near the village of Eccles in the Scottish Borders.  The BESS is due to open in 2027 with construction currently underway.  Starting in 2025, Zenobe will provide an annual contribution to the Fund of £25,000 (index-linked). 

Purpose of this fund

Using targeted grantmaking, co-production and/or commissioning approaches, the local Steering Group will work with a range of community groups and charities to develop projects that align with, and enable achievement of, priorities laid out within the Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham  Community Led Plan (CLP).  The priorities are:

1.    Connectivity 
•    Improved communications networks (digital and traditional).
•    Better disability access information for events and buildings.
•    Enhanced public transport and cycle routes connecting villages and towns.

2.    Inclusivity 
•    Creating vibrant, friendly and supportive communities.
•    Ensuring all people (regardless of age or background) are valued, included and supported.

3.    Sustainability 
•    Working toward becoming a greener, more sustainable community.
•    Focus on better home insulation, generating green energy, and improving recycling.

4.    Health and Wellbeing 
•    Access to exercise and social interaction for all ages.
•    Creating safe villages and communities.
•    Ensuring village halls can serve as resilient, safe hubs during disruptions.

5.    Pride of Place 
•    Developing communities where residents are proud to live in.

6.    Rural Environment 
•    Retaining the rural environment for community benefit.
•    Protecting wildlife and flora.
•    Maintaining food production capabilities.

7.    Tourism and Heritage 
•    Contributing to and benefiting from responsible tourism.
•    Promoting local heritage and history.
•    Creating connected paths and heritage trails between villages.

Grants may support a wide range of costs, including maintenance or refurbishment costs  of community facilities, the costs of equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, and so on.

In exceptional circumstances, projects that don't align with the CLP but demonstrate significant community benefit may also be considered, but this is unlikely in the early years of the Fund.

Who can apply?

The Fund will primarily be utilised to support projects developed and overseen by the local Steering Group through the targeted approaches described above.  This reflects the Steering Group’s assessment that a sufficient number of priority projects have been identified through the community consultation process to utilise the available funding effectively.

Groups and organisations that have ideas that could contribute to achieving the Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Led Plan priorities may submit them to the Steering Group by emailing leb-cc@outlook.com. 

What can’t be funded?

Information on what the fund cannot support is provided here. 

Additionally, the fund cannot support:

• Anti-wind farm or anti-renewable energy activities, including activities contrary to the interests of Greencoat UK Wind, or any of their holding companies, subsidiaries or sister companies (as defined under the Companies Act 2006);
• Activities that bring Zenobe, or any of their holding companies, subsidiaries or sister companies (as defined under the Companies Act 2006) or Foundation Scotland into disrepute.
• Applications that have not received an invitation to submit a funding application by the Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Steering Group.  

How are decisions made?

Identifying fundable community-led projects from the Community Led Plan: Using the Community Led Plan (CLP), projects will be identified by the CLP Group.  This group will be responsible for identifying and extracting a list of immediate, medium-term, and long-term priority projects from the CLP that have the potential to be developed into viable projects and progressed to completion.  

Community Benefit Project Steering Group (Steering Group): A Steering Group will be formed and will meet bi-monthly, alternating with the Community Council. The role of the group will be to consider proposals put forth by the CLP Group and consider and agree upon immediate priorities, monitor spending and project impact. The priorities provided by the CLP Group will be key to these considerations when supporting a project.  The Steering Group will identify a project from its list of priorities provided by the CLP Group. Proposals endorsed by the Steering Group will be submitted to the full Community Council for approval.

Application Process: Once agreed by the Community Council, an application will be made to Foundation Scotland.

Final Decision-Making Process:  Following completion of the assessment, Foundation Scotland will provide its recommendation to the Steering Group and the Steering Group will make a final decision on the project.

Award Notification: Once the Steering Group ratifies the final decision, it will notify Foundation Scotland, which will then formally process the award. The applicant will receive notification of the outcome, including acceptance terms and conditions, if successful.