The "Let's Give Sport Back to Girls" cricket programme, a partnership between Beyond Boundaries, Inch Park Community Sports Club (IPCSC), and Edinburgh South Cricket Club (ESCC), aimed to increase participation in sports among young girls. The initiative targeted girls with no prior cricket experience and limited engagement in other sports activities.
This is part of a wider strategy by IPCSC and ESCC to help grow girls’ and women’s cricket in the area. The club began its existence in 1957, but the women’s section is less than ten years old, and we are therefore trying to build something in the area with no foundations to begin from. The section to date now has nearly 30 members and is going from strength to strength. Next year will see us look to enter a team in the Premier League, in addition to the existing Challenger League side.
This is not a new challenge for Edinburgh South CC. In 2005, we had just 16 senior men’s members with no junior section, in an area with no real history of playing cricket. But that didn’t stop us from trying, and 20 years on, the game is thriving. We have five men’s XIs, junior teams across the age groups, and our 1st XI have been promoted to the Eastern Premier Division for the first time in its history. It shows what can be possible with a good structure, dedicated and committed people interested in the community that surrounds our club, and a focus on what they need and want from their sport.
So, we took the challenge head-on with an ambitious programme to bring cricket to girls in the area who were not engaging in much sport at all, with the support of funding from Beyond Boundaries.
The programme successfully engaged 28 participants, with 19 being complete beginners in cricket. Notably, 11 of these girls did not participate in any other regular sport.
The programme proved to be a transformative experience for the girls. They not only gained cricketing skills but also witnessed a significant boost in confidence and communication skills. This positive transformation was evident in the way they bonded throughout the programme, with several girls emerging as natural leaders. They actively participated in group discussions and even assisted coaches with activities towards the end.
The programme also addressed the often-sensitive topic of body image. A session facilitated by an external specialist helped the girls explore positive body image in a fun and engaging manner. This session was particularly well-received, with the girls openly discussing how it helped them reframe their perception of sports as being suitable for them.
The project also highlighted the value of peer mentorship. Including older girls from our club as volunteer helpers proved to be a successful strategy. One now has over 500 hours towards her Saltire volunteering certificate!
These role models were able to share their own experiences and inspire the younger participants.
We are hugely thankful to Beyond Boundaries for their funding and faith in trialling something a little different. Charities that help tackle some of these participation challenges our sport faces are vital to help our game grow and for more people to enjoy the benefits we all get from the game of cricket.