‘Special’ Scottish partnership rewarded at ICC Development Awards

The link-up, which started in 2017, has boosted opportunities for female and disabled cricketers across Scotland as well as taking free sessions into disadvantaged areas.

Participation numbers have swelled and the impact has now received a coveted accolade in the form of the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year prize at the ICC Development Awards, a longstanding initiative to reward outstanding efforts to grow and strengthen the game among the ICC Associate members.

Cricket Scotland’s head of development, Nicola Wilson, said: “We have been on a journey with Beyond Boundaries, which makes this so special.

“This is a small Scottish charity who are totally focused on changing lives for the better and creating opportunities through cricket.

“There have been many twists and turns and they have grown with us. It’s really nice to get the recognition they deserve.”

Boosting provision for women’s cricket has been a key pillar of the partnership, with the Wee Bash – a winter softball competition for all ages and abilities – proving a hit.

Other competition structures have been formalised and the Women’s T20 Scottish Cup finals day has evolved into a key date on the calendar.

“In 2017, we had a couple of banners up and some food,” Wilson said. “Now that has evolved into a live stream to showcase the day and it has become a real event.

“The Wee Bash was created on a rainy week during an ICC Qualifier in Stirling.

“One of the national team players did a bit of graphic design and designed the logo, and we had a real mix of players – internationals could play with novices.

“It has evolved into an entry level programme and many players have moved into hard ball cricket.

“We try not to do everything for the teams, we want them to learn to umpire, learn about the game and be actively involved in helping deliver the tournaments.

“It’s a really good way to take the first steps on an umpiring or coaching pathway.”

Nine disability champion clubs have also been created across the country, with each receiving support from Cricket Scotland’s full-time disability development manager, a kitbag and £500 towards helping with coaching.

“The disability champion clubs are really important to us,” Wilson said. “They are spread around the country, from Fraserburgh to Galloway.

“The aim is to give participants with a disability the opportunity to represent a club.

“Quite often you get these ‘pockets’ within clubs but we want them to have the same experience and really feel part of a club.

“The next step is a pathway to representative cricket. We have good links with the (English) northern counties and we are definitely looking at representative teams.”

The HOWZAT! programme, meanwhile, is aimed at a younger age group, offering free community cricket programmes to 5-11 year-olds in disadvantaged communities.

This feeds into Cricket Scotland’s Wicketz hubs, situated in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh, which offer lifestyle workshops on topics such as knife-crime, healthy eating, CV writing and discrimination as well as a cricketing outlet.

“It’s about providing the opportunity to engage with cricket not in a club setting,” Wilson said.

“It provides outlets for families who can’t get to a club because of financial barriers or lack of transport.

“We have a real mix of nationalities in those sessions, as well as participants who have come in to help deliver the sessions, and we are putting on a coaching course for some of the Wicketz participants who have come through that programme. It has been a real success.”

Now boosted by international recognition in the form of their ICC Development Award, Wilson hopes to see the link-up continue to flourish.

“We are not in it for award, we are in it for the smiling faces, to change lives and bring families back to cricket,” Wilson said.

“That said, it is fantastic to get recognition and we are really excited. I am so proud of the development team and all the work they deliver.”