Cricket Scotland is delighted to have been awarded the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year Award for our partnership with Beyond Boundaries, and the ICC Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year Award for our historic ODI victory over Ireland in October.
As winners of the Europe region, Cricket Scotland will be nominated for global recognition in both categories.
Cricket Scotland’s partnership with Beyond Boundaries has enabled the organisation to support the growth of women and girls’ cricket, establish disability cricket in clubs, and provide free community cricket sessions for children in disadvantaged areas.
Beyond Boundaries have helped support the growth of women and girls’ cricket by covering the cost of coaching courses for female candidates, whilst also supporting the Wee Bash and Women’s T20 Scottish Cup, providing opportunities for hundreds of women and girls to play cricket.
There are now eight Disability Champion Clubs in Scotland, where cricketers with a disability can be part of an inclusive club, with the partnership benefiting over 150 cricketers in 2023.
Beyond Boundaries’ support for children in disadvantaged areas provides a first taste of cricket for young people, enabling improved physical and mental health, self confidence and social inclusion. Beyond Boundaries have offered 180 free spaces across three hubs for All Stars Cricket (5-8) and Dynamos Cricket (8-11) which then feeds into our Wicketz hubs delivered in partnership with The Lord’s Taverners.
Head of Development Nic Wilson said: “It’s fantastic to receive recognition for our work that we do in partnership with Beyond Boundaries, providing opportunities to hundreds of people across Scotland to engage with cricket.
“The partnership represents ‘Cricket for Good’ in the widest sense, by supporting elements of three pillars of work that are extremely important to both organisations: empowering women & girls, creating inclusive clubs for people of all abilities, and changing lives through cricket in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland.
“We look forward to continuing this work in 2024 and ensuring that cricket is used as a driving force for positive change in communities across Scotland.”
Scotland Women’s Performance of the Year Award comes off the back of last year’s ODI victory over Ireland in Desert Springs, which marked Scotland’s first ODI since gaining official status in 2022.
Kathryn Bryce’s 78 helped Scotland post 221, before Ireland were bowled out for 171 in reply, as the Scots recorded a historic victory over a full-member nation.
