The Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award

Celebrating Heart, Spirit, and Impact Beyond the Competition

Is your band about more than just great performances?
Do you lift each other up, overcome challenges together, and make a real difference in your community?

Then this is your moment.

The Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award celebrates the bands who go beyond the circle — those who embody resilience, teamwork, inclusion, creativity, and true community spirit.

New for This Year: The Prize Has Doubled!

Each year, one exceptional band is honoured with the Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award — and this year, the cash prize has increased from £500 to £1,000, providing even greater support for your band’s journey, development, and dreams.

In Memory of Eilidh MacLeod

This award is named in loving tribute to Eilidh MacLeod, a gifted young piper from the Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, whose life was tragically lost in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.  Eilidh embodied everything this award stands for — endeavour, friendship, commitment, kindness, and joy in music. Through this award, we are proud to honour her legacy by celebrating bands who carry those same values forward.

What We’re Looking For

Your band doesn’t need to do everything — we want to hear how you go above and beyond in one or more of the following areas:

Community Contribution

• Performing at local events or community gatherings
• Volunteering or taking part in local groups
• Supporting charities or community initiatives

Inclusion & Diversity

• Welcoming members from all backgrounds
• Supporting pupils with additional needs
• Removing barriers such as transport or financial hardship

Enthusiasm & Camaraderie

• Genuine friendship and support within the band
• Creating a positive, uplifting environment where everyone belongs

Innovation

• Trying new ideas — combining music with storytelling, dance, or drama
• Creative approaches to fundraising, teaching, or performing

Perseverance & Resilience

• Thriving despite challenges such as illness, limited resources, or instructor shortages
• Individual stories of determination, commitment, and grit

How to Apply

Tell us your story.
Share what makes your band special. Whether it’s a quiet act of kindness or a bold community project, we want to hear how your band makes a difference.

Let’s celebrate the bands that bring heart across Scotland, spirit to the stage, and music to life — and support them with a £1,000 award that recognises endeavour in its truest form.