History

The Beyond Boundaries charity was formed in 2016 having evolved out of another organisation, the Scottish Women’s Cricket Association (SWCA) which had been established in 2014 in response to the Scottish government’s drive to increase women and girls’ participation in sport following the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The original board of trustees of the SWCA included businesspeople, those involved in cricket, and politicians, and was headed up by Liz Smith, member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and ex-Scotland cricketer.

The SWCA sought to improve participation at grassroots level and to develop a pathway for young girls to improve in their sport such that they could eventually go on to represent their country in what were hoped to be increased opportunities for international matches.  SWCA aimed to supplement the limited funding from the governing body, Cricket Scotland, which was then available to support these aims.

In 2015, changes in the governance structure at Cricket Scotland resulted in a new strategy to develop the women’s game through enhanced funding and improved focus, and this in turn meant that the SWCA ‘s funds could be re-directed.

Hence the SWCA was re-launched Beyond Boundaries, and while its main tool remained the sport of cricket, its aims and objectives were broadened to include supporting disadvantaged and underrepresented people, as well as continuing to help increase participation by women and girls, throughout Scotland.

Beyond Boundaries has, since its inception, funded several important programmes throughout Scotland including the Wee Bash, the women’s T20 Cup, Disability Champion Clubs, Howzat and through supporting the dedicated women’s coaching programmes.

Further details of these programmes are available throughout our website.