Our Projects
HOWZAT Programme in Disadvantaged Communities
The HOWZAT Programme provides free, tailored cricket-based activities as a tool to transform young, disadvantaged people’s lives. It creates opportunities for participants, that they would not otherwise have, which maximises potential and increases their confidence and communication skills. Additionally, it strengthens communities and reduces stress, anxiety, loneliness and isolation.
The programme also encourages volunteering from within each community as well as the involvement of parents/guardians. The cricket activities themselves are based on UK-wide tried and tested modules appropriate for each age group. Through the sponsorship of Beyond Boundaries, free cricket sessions are offered within each community and using local volunteers who understand different cultures and local issues the project breaks down social barriers to participation. The environment allows children to play, enjoy a social activity, make new friends and learn a sports skill within a safe place.
The key to its success is creating partnerships with local organisations and ensuring that the young people and their parents/carers feel comfortable with those delivering it. The programme does not simply airlift in cricket coaches; but creates a sustainable series of activities with trained volunteers and is an approach which could be rolled out geographically across the whole of Scotland.
Beyond Boundaries Women's T20 Scottish Cup
Going into its seventh year, this tournament is the premier T20 women’s event in Scotland providing a showpiece season finale.
Past winners: 2017 George Watson’s College Girls Cricket Club, 2018 West-combined, 2019 Carlton CC, 2021 Carlton CC, 2022 Northern Lights, 2023 West of Scotland.
8 teams will compete for the title in 2024 - Lomond Lynx, West of Scotland, Watsonian/Dumfries, East Kilbride, Stewarts Melville, Grange, Royal High Corstorphine and Carlton. This year’s event gets underway with the quarter-finals on July 10. Finals Day will take place on August 10 at Stirling CCC.
With a major emphasis on fun and social interaction The Wee Bash programme has been designed specifically for Women and Girls both to increase initial participation and continuing enjoyment.
More specifically the Wee Bash tournaments, sponsored by Beyond Boundaries and delivered via our delivery partner Cricket Scotland, are played with a soft ball in an indoor environment, ensuring that women and girls of all ages and all abilities can comfortably play together. There is no endless chasing of a ball if a Scotland International is batting, and the softness of the ball means that a hard-hit ball bounces gently off the wall of a sports hall, so a younger or novice player can comfortably catch it, without the fear of hurting herself.
Wee Bash
While cricket is traditionally a summer sport the indoor format allows it to be played during the winter too, allowing all year exercise and importantly addressing participants’ needs of “looking forward to seeing everyone again and catching up” which highlights the social aspect.
The free Wee Bash tournaments are held approximately monthly at around 10 venues across Scotland and allow cricket clubs, schools, higher education institutions and community groups to get involved.
The Wee Bash is a great way for women and girls to participate in sport. There are no complicated rules, no strict dress code, no hard ball, no protective equipment – just an enjoyable game as players develop new skills and teamwork.
The Wee Bash is already providing a successful and positive experience for each individual participant and has grown the confidence both of those who wish to further develop their cricket, and also those who simply want some exercise and social interaction in a fun environment.
Female Coach Development Programme
Cricket, like all sports in Scotland, relies heavily on volunteers.
It has been proven that a key factor for the successful development of Women & Girls cricket is the significant advantage of access to female coaches. As a result, from 2021 Beyond Boundaries has been funding attendance at female-only Coach Development courses and, of the 87 who have already attended, 82% described the course as “very good”.
The skills gained are now being deployed in practice which will further support the development of W&G’s cricket in Scotland.
Disability Cricket Champions Clubs
With the support of a tried and tested approach developed by the ECB (England and Wales overall cricket body) and delivered by our partner Cricket Scotland, Beyond Boundaries are sponsoring the Disability Cricket Champions Club Programme (DCCC) in Scotland.
The Beyond Boundaries DCCC program supports cricket clubs in Scotland to open their gates and deliver cricket opportunities tailored to those with disabilities. As well as money, this support includes the provision of guidance, resource and equipment enabling Champion Clubs to welcome individuals with additional needs and varying abilities and to support their participation – whether playing, following, officiating, or volunteering. As a result, creating a truly equitable club game and providing fantastic opportunities for both individual participants and the Champion Clubs.
The roll out in Scotland commenced in 2021 with the first 3 Champion Clubs selected being Westquarter and Redding, Strathmore and Dumfries. Since then, it has grown to 9 clubs across Scotland with the addition of Fraserburgh, Livingston, Galloway, Falkland, Meigle and most recently Stoneywood Dyce. Beyond Boundaries would dearly love to continue the roll out beyond that.
This program is creating real opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in sport and more broadly within their communities and, with appropriate funding, a key goal of Beyond Boundaries is to continue to expand the program to more cricket clubs so that more individuals and communities can benefit.
Beyond Boundaries Enhanced Provision All Stars Programme
Beyond Boundaries supported the targeted use of the All Stars programme – cricket based activities for 5-8 year olds – for children with additional educational needs via a pilot in the Forth Valley area in 2019. This successfully grew from 1 school and 12 participants in the first year to 3 schools and 50 places in 2022. This Forth Valley All Stars is now fully self-sustaining with support from Westquarter and Redding cricket club and Forth Valley cricket.
Beyond Boundaries are now seeking to support the roll out of Enhanced Provision All Stars programme to more young people with additional support needs more broadly across Scotland. Via the active involvement of the Cricket Scotland disability manager, Active Schools and Scottish Disability Sport further activities have been supported in Aberdeen (Mile End School), Angus (Ladyloan, Wardykes, Inverbrothick and Langlands primary schools) and Perth and Kinross (Coupar Angus primary school and Blairgowrie High School); overall almost 100 children.